Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement

<p>Based on forty-eight qualitative interviews with Syrian refugee women and their families, this study explores the dynamics of Syrian-Egyptian marriages formed after displacement. Grounded in acculturation, marriage economics, and social exchange theories, I ask: what role is played by both...

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Main Author: Dina M. Taha (21797186) (author)
Published: 2024
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author Dina M. Taha (21797186)
author_facet Dina M. Taha (21797186)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Dina M. Taha (21797186)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-06-13T09:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101995
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Marriage_economics_bargaining_and_strategic_agency_Egyptian-Syrian_intermarriage_practices_in_the_context_of_displacement/29899184
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Human society
Demography
Gender studies
Sociology
Marriage economics
Intermarriage
Displacement
Strategic agency
Syria
Egypt
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p>Based on forty-eight qualitative interviews with Syrian refugee women and their families, this study explores the dynamics of Syrian-Egyptian marriages formed after displacement. Grounded in acculturation, marriage economics, and social exchange theories, I ask: what role is played by both cultural customs and displacement in dictating the Egyptian-(displaced)Syrian intermarriage trajectories and power dynamics in these unions? And how did Syrian women and Egyptian men leverage cultural differences to maximize their own benefits? The results outline how urfi (customary) marriage and marriage economic traditions differ between these two often homogenized (and continuously Orientalized) cultures, impacting the marital relationship’s nature, bargaining power and success. Beyond the passive exploitation narrative that hounds these highly stigmatized arrangements, the analysis illuminates how these marriages are often a result of immediate utilitarian and financial intersecting interests between the men and the women, they still carry long-term effects influencing the spousal balance of power. Nonetheless, some Syrian women leveraged cultural differences to maximize their gains and mitigate the implications of displacement and uprooting demonstrating a strategic and dialogical acculturation. The study concludes by highlighting the impact of displacement on marriage dynamics, shedding light on financial and power imbalances while highlighting how social and moral factors such as family support and socioeconomic factors influence the marriage dynamic. Contribution: The study sheds light on inter-Arab marriages in displacement contexts and broadens understanding within the larger spectrum of Arab marital dynamics, stimulating nuanced conversations about the sociology of marriage and family in the Arab world.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: International Journal of Intercultural Relations<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101995" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101995</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101995
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/29899184
publishDate 2024
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spelling Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacementDina M. Taha (21797186)Human societyDemographyGender studiesSociologyMarriage economicsIntermarriageDisplacementStrategic agencySyriaEgypt<p>Based on forty-eight qualitative interviews with Syrian refugee women and their families, this study explores the dynamics of Syrian-Egyptian marriages formed after displacement. Grounded in acculturation, marriage economics, and social exchange theories, I ask: what role is played by both cultural customs and displacement in dictating the Egyptian-(displaced)Syrian intermarriage trajectories and power dynamics in these unions? And how did Syrian women and Egyptian men leverage cultural differences to maximize their own benefits? The results outline how urfi (customary) marriage and marriage economic traditions differ between these two often homogenized (and continuously Orientalized) cultures, impacting the marital relationship’s nature, bargaining power and success. Beyond the passive exploitation narrative that hounds these highly stigmatized arrangements, the analysis illuminates how these marriages are often a result of immediate utilitarian and financial intersecting interests between the men and the women, they still carry long-term effects influencing the spousal balance of power. Nonetheless, some Syrian women leveraged cultural differences to maximize their gains and mitigate the implications of displacement and uprooting demonstrating a strategic and dialogical acculturation. The study concludes by highlighting the impact of displacement on marriage dynamics, shedding light on financial and power imbalances while highlighting how social and moral factors such as family support and socioeconomic factors influence the marriage dynamic. Contribution: The study sheds light on inter-Arab marriages in displacement contexts and broadens understanding within the larger spectrum of Arab marital dynamics, stimulating nuanced conversations about the sociology of marriage and family in the Arab world.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: International Journal of Intercultural Relations<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101995" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101995</a></p>2024-06-13T09:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101995https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Marriage_economics_bargaining_and_strategic_agency_Egyptian-Syrian_intermarriage_practices_in_the_context_of_displacement/29899184CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/298991842024-06-13T09:00:00Z
spellingShingle Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement
Dina M. Taha (21797186)
Human society
Demography
Gender studies
Sociology
Marriage economics
Intermarriage
Displacement
Strategic agency
Syria
Egypt
status_str publishedVersion
title Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement
title_full Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement
title_fullStr Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement
title_full_unstemmed Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement
title_short Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement
title_sort Marriage economics, bargaining and strategic agency: Egyptian-Syrian intermarriage practices in the context of displacement
topic Human society
Demography
Gender studies
Sociology
Marriage economics
Intermarriage
Displacement
Strategic agency
Syria
Egypt