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Seven Transnational grandmother–grandchild relationships in the context of migration from Lithuania to Ireland

Abstract

This chapter examines the impact of transnational family migration on the relationships between Lithuanian migrant adolescents living in Ireland and their non-migrant grandmothers residing in Lithuania. Drawing on cross-generational perspectives obtained through multi-sited, in-depth interviews, this chapter focuses on three major themes, namely: 1) the changing nature of grandmother-grandchild relationship as perceived by both parties involved; 2) practices endorsed in maintaining intergenerational ties transnationally; and 3) the key factors contributing to the grandmother-grandchild relationship in transnationally dispersed families. Findings discussed in this chapter contribute to the study of intergenerational relationships by providing a more nuanced understanding of how significant physical distance and long-time separation affect relationships, contact practices, and perceived emotional ties between grandparents and grandchildren.

Abstract

This chapter examines the impact of transnational family migration on the relationships between Lithuanian migrant adolescents living in Ireland and their non-migrant grandmothers residing in Lithuania. Drawing on cross-generational perspectives obtained through multi-sited, in-depth interviews, this chapter focuses on three major themes, namely: 1) the changing nature of grandmother-grandchild relationship as perceived by both parties involved; 2) practices endorsed in maintaining intergenerational ties transnationally; and 3) the key factors contributing to the grandmother-grandchild relationship in transnationally dispersed families. Findings discussed in this chapter contribute to the study of intergenerational relationships by providing a more nuanced understanding of how significant physical distance and long-time separation affect relationships, contact practices, and perceived emotional ties between grandparents and grandchildren.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents iii
  3. List of figures and tables v
  4. List of abbreviations vii
  5. Notes on contributors ix
  6. Introduction: widening the lens on grandparenting 1
  7. The demographic and welfare-state contexts of grandparenting
  8. The demography of grandparenthood in 16 European countries and two North American countries 23
  9. Grandparental childcare: a reconceptualisation of family policy regimes 43
  10. Grandparenting in contexts of economic and societal development
  11. Grandparenting in developing South East Asia: comparative perspectives from Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam 65
  12. Second-parenthood realities, third-age ideals: (grand)parenthood in the context of poverty and HIV/AIDS 89
  13. Transnational grandparenting
  14. Transnational grandparenting: the intersection of transnationalism and translocality 113
  15. Transnational grandmother–grandchild relationships in the context of migration from Lithuania to Ireland 131
  16. Gender, intersectionalities and grandparenting
  17. The composition of grandparent childcare: gendered patterns in cross-national perspective 151
  18. Class-based grandfathering practices in Finland 171
  19. Grandfamilies in the United States: an intersectional analysis 189
  20. Grandparental roles, agency and influence
  21. How grandparents influence the religiosity of their grandchildren: a mixed-methods study of three-generation families in the United States 211
  22. Can Chinese grandparents say no? A comparison of grandmothers in two Asian cities 233
  23. “I am not that type of grandmother”: (non)compliance with the grandmother archetype among contemporary Czech grandmothers 253
  24. Conclusions: the grandparents’ century? 271
  25. Index 285
Grandparenting Practices Around the World
This chapter is in the book Grandparenting Practices Around the World
https://doi.org/10.56687/9781447340669-010

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents iii
  3. List of figures and tables v
  4. List of abbreviations vii
  5. Notes on contributors ix
  6. Introduction: widening the lens on grandparenting 1
  7. The demographic and welfare-state contexts of grandparenting
  8. The demography of grandparenthood in 16 European countries and two North American countries 23
  9. Grandparental childcare: a reconceptualisation of family policy regimes 43
  10. Grandparenting in contexts of economic and societal development
  11. Grandparenting in developing South East Asia: comparative perspectives from Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam 65
  12. Second-parenthood realities, third-age ideals: (grand)parenthood in the context of poverty and HIV/AIDS 89
  13. Transnational grandparenting
  14. Transnational grandparenting: the intersection of transnationalism and translocality 113
  15. Transnational grandmother–grandchild relationships in the context of migration from Lithuania to Ireland 131
  16. Gender, intersectionalities and grandparenting
  17. The composition of grandparent childcare: gendered patterns in cross-national perspective 151
  18. Class-based grandfathering practices in Finland 171
  19. Grandfamilies in the United States: an intersectional analysis 189
  20. Grandparental roles, agency and influence
  21. How grandparents influence the religiosity of their grandchildren: a mixed-methods study of three-generation families in the United States 211
  22. Can Chinese grandparents say no? A comparison of grandmothers in two Asian cities 233
  23. “I am not that type of grandmother”: (non)compliance with the grandmother archetype among contemporary Czech grandmothers 253
  24. Conclusions: the grandparents’ century? 271
  25. Index 285
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