Ce “sentiment de culpabilité”

Abstract

This paper explores the experience of “guilt” as a motivating emotion in reciprocal obligations to care in transnational kinship relations. My hypothesis is that the act of migration, by causing physical separation, absence and longing, causes migrants to feel guilty about their moral obligations to be co-present. For instance, migrants often feel guilty about not being present to look after ageing parents; similarly, parents often feel guilty about not participating in the lives of their children and especially grandchildren. This “guilty feeling” motivates them to “stay in touch” as often and as effectively as they can by creating opportunities in which they can exchange co-presence and share the gift of self. By strengthening relationship, by exerting influence over others, and as a mechanism for alleviating inequities in relationships, guilty may serve to strengthen and maintain transnational caregiving relationships. However, in transnational relationships where obligations are too great to be readily met, individuals may withdraw their caregiving in order to avoid overwhelming and debilitating feelings of guilt.