Intermarried Couples and Transnationalism in Denmark: Psycho-social Aspects

This paper contributes to comprehending multiculturalism and globalisation by focusing on the psycho-social experiences of the mixed couples’ life relating to the country of native partner and the spouse’s country of origin. Despite intermarriages increase, couples’ own voices are under researched in Denmark, characterised by apparent homogeneity, historical silencing of mixedness and colour-blind ideology.

The paper is drawn from a larger project, which included ten in-depth interviews of ethnic intermarried couples -native Danish partner and originating from India (Singla, 2015). Cultural psychology forms the background of the theoretical framework, foregrounded by a combination of intersectionality, everyday life perspective and transnationalism. The narratives are thematically analysed leading to five major themes, whereas participants’ transnationalism -interconnections between the two nation’s contexts, is covered in this paper.

The results demonstrate varying degrees of transnational contacts depending on “big three” gender, socio-economic belonging and the life course period intersecting subjective aspects such as the nature of relationships, the agency of the persons. Through cases, two strategies- a high level of contact with India through visits and digital technology, and limited ongoing contact though economic duties, are illustrated. Furthermore results reflect on whether and how the baggage of power and privilege that Indian men often carry into marital relationships gets infused into marriages with ‘others’ with more gender egalitarian norms. In addition, how do Indian women negotiate with ‘wifely’ expectations that are different from those they have been earlier socialised to. Lastly, implications of these findings for psychosocial services for mixed couples are discussed.

Singla, R. (2015) Intermarriage, Mixed Parenting, Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing “Crossover Love” Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan