Making Home in Diasporic Communities: Transnational belonging amongst Filipina migrants(Studies in Migration and Diaspora)

Making Home in Diasporic Communities demonstrates the global scope of the Filipino diaspora, engaging wider scholarship on globalisation and the ways in which the dynamics of nation-state institutions, labour migration and social relationships intersect for transnational communities. Based on original ethnographic work conducted in Ireland and the Philippines, the book examines how Filipina diasporans socially and symbolically create a sense of ‘home’. On one hand, Filipinas can be seen as mobile, as they have crossed geographical borders and are physically located in the destination country. Yet, on the other hand, they are constrained by immigration policies, linguistic and cultural barriers and other social and cultural institutions. Through modalities of language, rituals and religion and food, the author examines the ways in which Filipinas orient their perceptions, expectations, practices and social spaces to ‘the homeland’, thus providing insight into larger questions of inclusion and exclusion for diasporic communities. By focusing on a range of Filipina experiences, including that of nurses, international students, religious workers and personal assistants, Making Home in Diasporic Communities explores the intersectionality of gender, race, class and belonging. As such, it will appeal to scholars of sociology and anthropology as well as those with interests in gender, identity, migration, ethnic studies, and the construction of home.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Conceptualising Home and Diaspora 2. Landscapes of Dislocation 3. ‘Our Noses Will Bleed and Then We Die’: Using Language as a Borderland Strategy 4. ‘Hey! Are you Filipino?’ Adapting Rituals, Religion and Routine 5. ‘As Long as You Have Your Food, You Feel at Home’: Eating, Gathering and Socializing 6. Romanticizing the Homeland 7. Working towards Home References Appendix A: Profile of Participants Appendix B: Interview Questions Appendix C: Notes on Terminology

About the Author :
Diane Nititham is a professor of sociology at Murray State University, USA. She specialises in migration, diaspora, and transnational communities, and is the co-editor of Heritage, Diaspora and the Consumption of Culture.

Review :
‘This book illuminates the lived experiences of an underrepresented group in Ireland and complicates discussions of globalization, migration, (national) identity and notions of home. It is a significant contribution to the field of Irish Studies and discourses on globalization, migration, and diaspora. Dr. Nititham gives a human face to seemingly abstract global economic and political forces.’ - Dr. Tanya Saroj Bakhru, San Jose State University, USA 'The first book to examine the lives of Filipina migrants in Ireland, Making Home in Diasporic Communities poignantly captures their day-to-day social practices, as they negotiate the politics of belonging in both Ireland and the Philippines. A must-read for all those interested in globalization and transnational belonging.' - Professor Yen Le Espiritu, University of California, San Diego, USA 'As one of the largest diasporas in the world, the Filipino diaspora is especially ripe for exploring questions of racialization, identity formation, transnationalism and belonging. Nititham provides a richly textured portrait of Filipina diasporans’ complex home-making strategies in Ireland. Her work is a unique contribution to Filipino diaspora studies that can serve as the basis for exciting comparative research.' - Robyn Rodriguez, University of California, Davis, USA