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Migration, Money and Masculinity in Kerala

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 16:32 authored by Filippo OsellaFilippo Osella, Caroline Osella
This article examines migration, styles of masculinity and male trajectories through the life-cycle in Kerala, South India, in a region with a long history of high migration, most lately to the Persian Gulf states. Ethnography suggests that migration may be integrated into wider identity projects and form part of local subjectivities. The article considers four important local categories: the gulfan migrant, typically an immature unmarried male; the kallan, a self-interested maximizer or individualistic anti-social man; the pavam, an innocent good-guy, generous to the point of self-destruction; mature householder status, a successful, social, mature man holding substantial personal wealth, supporting many dependents and clients. Another theme to emerge is the relationship between masculinity and cash: migration appears as particularly relevant to masculinity in its enhanced relationship with money, an externalizable (detachable) form of masculine potency: maturity means being able to use such resources wisely.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute

ISSN

1359-0987

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Issue

1

Volume

6

Page range

117- 133

ISBN

0025-1496

Department affiliated with

  • Anthropology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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