Transnational Families in Europe research project: Care, Inequalities and Wellbeing

This innovative comparative research project investigates the relationships between care, inequalities & wellbeing among different generations of transnational families in the UK, Spain, France & Sweden.

Using a multi-sited family-focused ethnographic & participatory action research methodology, the  project compares migrant carers’ and transnational families’ experiences within four partner countries with contrasting welfare models, migration regimes & post-colonial legacies. We have selected a diverse sample of 100 transnational families with care needs (25 in each country) of different ethnicities & varying legal status from two contrasting regions in each country to compare experiences at different urban and rural scales, as well as between countries. We engage with 3 or 4 different generations, including family members living in countries of origin/other settlement countries.

The study is providing unique insights into how family care practices are negotiated between & within different generations of transnational families in Europe, while also considering their family ties in countries of origin. This timely project captures the health, economic, social & emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on transnational families as the crisis unfolds, including changing intergenerational caring responsibilities & mobility strategies. It explores the impacts of care on younger, middle & older generations’ wellbeing & opportunities & how social reproductive & productive work are shaped by intersecting inequalities of gender, age & generation, disability, race, ethnicity/cultural background & socio-economic & legal status.

We hope the project will achieve significant societal impacts by providing a valuable evidence-base to inform policy in improving the wellbeing & equality of transnational families in Europe

Transnational Families in Europe research project: Care, Inequalities and Wellbeing: https://research.reading.ac.uk/transnational-families/