Mobile-mediated mothering from a distance: A case study of Somali mothers in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Autor:	Pragna Rugunanan, Celine Meyers
Rok vydání:	2020
Předmět:	Cultural Studies language Gender studies Sociology Port (computer networking) Somali language.human_language
Zdroj:	International Journal of Cultural Studies. 23:656-673
ISSN:	1460-356X 1367-8779
DOI:	10.1177/1367877920926645
Popis:	This article explores the mobile-mediated mothering experiences among migrant Somali mothers living in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with Somali mothers to examine how Imo, Viber, Skype and WhatsApp enable them to fulfil important maternal responsibilities toward their left-behind children in Somalia. The findings reveal that three types of maternal tensions occur due to their migration: guilt and concern, family strains, and judgement in Somali communities. Efforts to overcome these tensions include the adoption of mobile technologies to continue to mother from a distance. Migrant Somali mothers in this study mediate mothering using mobile platforms by: (a) transferring remittances to their children’s caretakers, (b) sustaining emotional bonds, (c) teaching religious beliefs, and (d) encouraging educational pursuits. By focusing on mothers as a distinct category of women, this study contributes to the theoretical call for more scholarship on matricentric feminism.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::bc66149ebd4174d86a21c66375ea5ee8 https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877920926645 Zobrazit plný text záznamu