Who Cares? Families and Feelings in Movement

This paper explores the emotional dimensions of human mobility and transnational family life. The author argues that while feelings of non-belonging are part and parcel of human nature and thus not restricted to migrants, experiences of loss and homelessness can be directly caused by migrant-specific predicaments. After a discussion of some of the recent debates around transnationalism and emotions, and an introduction of the major themes that link the papers in the Special Issue, the author reflects on her own experiences of transnational care. The analysis focuses on issues such as family obligations, moral expectations, the experiential dialectics of proximity and distance, and the impact of changing communication technology on emotional processes. The paper uses a theoretical perspective that examines emotions as discourses, practices and embodied experiences.