Work, Family and Integration

This book examines the migration of Indians (mainly from the Punjab region in north India) to parts of northern Italy, especially the Emilia Romagna region. It analyzes the mobility patterns of migrants who occupy a niche in the labour market and unpacks the forward and backward linkages that migrants imagine, experience, and endure, not only in the context of the materiality of livelihood opportunities and income generation in Italy but also through affect, as potential immigrants and then as migrants, in a territorial and imagined space. The book unravels uncertainties and anxieties about identity among youth, women, and men through in-depth interviews. It also examines a reassertion of cultural tropes that portray identity in marked and vexed ways. The book brings a mutual recognition and acceptance of diversity, or its lack, in a European nation. It stands out for its nuanced ethnographic detail, its attention to the voices of youth and women, and exploration of their relationship with the host community. The book, therefore, is a must-read for everybody interested in a better understanding of migration and the culture of migration in different countries.