Multiple Marriages in Biographical Narratives of Female Migrants from Uzbekistan

Abstract

The article examines the biographical narratives of women from Uzbekistan who migrated after unsuccessful marital relationships. In Russia, these women utilise a repertoire of marital relations specific to migration, which resonates with changes in its legislative framework. The study, based on interview materials, explores the meanings women include in multiple marriages during migration. In the case studies it is examined how different types of marriages are rationalized by migrant women, and also how various types of marital unions intersect in their experience. The possibility of “repairing” marital status in Russia and the option of remaining unmarried are important epiphenomena of migration. Marital relationships in migration can also enhance not only the status of the women themselves in the country but also contribute to the mobility of their children.