Browsing by Author "Ní Mháirtín, Sarah"

Family-based migration is deemed to be a principal method of international relocation. Within this category, spouses make up a significant percentage, yet their subjective experiences of migration are largely underrepresented in academic literature. In a world where numbers and statistics linked to globalisation and relocation dominate, there is a need to revert to the human experience; to put a face to the figures. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) aims to represent and interpret experiences, offering an insider’s perspective on phenomenon linked to contemporary living. This paper explores the subjective experience of couples who have come to Finland by the migration route of spousal reunification. Participants represent a well-educated, skilled workforce and consist of six couples range in age from mid-20s to 30s. By means of semi-structured, qualitative interviews, these couples explain and make sense of their migratory experiences; from the initial decision of the “sponsor” to relocate, the application process for spousal reunification and the long-awaited reunion, to the adaptation period to a shared life in a new society. Herein, they explore their many turbulent emotions, bureaucratic and practical challenges and integration into Finnish society. The primary research question “How do couples explain their subjective experience of migration via family reunification?”, is followed by “What meanings do they attribute to this experience?” and “How do they account for this lived experience?”. Such matters are given in-depth interpretations, encompassing emotions and the personal consequences of migration. This study offers a novel insight into the experiences of an underrepresented population in academic research. The Finnish setting gives the paper an interesting angle, given the country’s recent adaptation to a “receiving society” for migrants. As such, the results add to a growing body of literature related to modern day migratory patterns and experiences. These findings offer insight into personal accounts of relocation and provide a basis for future research, in addition to practical applications relevant to migration processes.