This lecture presents findings from a qualitative research project examining the dating narratives of single migrant men residing in Sweden and Italy. The study, analyzing 51 interviews with individuals from Syrian, Polish, Bangladeshi, and Romanian backgrounds, along with ethnographic observations, employs a theoretical framework rooted in sexual capital theory and critical studies on men and masculinities. The analysis sheds light on the challenges faced by single migrant men in their pursuit of intimate partners, attributing these difficulties to lower social and cultural capitals, as well as the influence of their specific masculinities, which may be perceived as less attractive within the host societies. The paper argues that the migrant experience can be viewed as a distinctive sexual field, wherein individuals encounter unique dynamics and obstacles in the realm of intimate relationships. The implications of these findings extend beyond the personal experiences of migrant men, offering insights into the broader socio-cultural landscape of host societies and the complex interplay between migration, masculinity, and intimate relationships.
Katarzyna Wojnicka is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the Department of Sociology and Work Science at the University of Gothenburg. Her main fields of research are critical men and masculinities scholarship, migration, and social movements studies. She is one of the editors-in-chief of NORMA: International Journal for Masculinity Studies. Previously she had worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Gothenburg, the University of Leeds, and the Humboldt University of Berlin. Her work has been published, among others, in Men and Masculinities, the International Journal of Qualitative Methodology, Social Movement Studies, Qualitative Research, and the Gender, Work and Organization. Currently, she is involved in research projects on fathers’ activism in Europe, single migrant men, transnational abortion activism and European queer memorials.
Organizers: Women's Studies Centre – Łódź, Institute of Sociology and Department of Sociology of Social Structure and Social Change, University of Lodz
