South Asian women in the diaspora: reflections on arranged marriage and dowry among the Syrian Orthodox community in Canada

Abstract

This paper examines changing migrant attitudes towards marriage practices among South Asians Canadians. Based on the responses of 64 first and second-generation immigrants to Canada from the state of Kerala, India, the paper provides an examination of the social forces which challenge, reinterpret, transform, and reject cultural practices. Migration narratives speak of the ways in with both first and second generations actively engage in the making of migrant identities. The findings point to migrant agency and consciousness in challenging patriarchal structures and transforming practices which are perceived by respondents as oppressive and exploitative.

Keywords:

• marriage practices
• South Asian Canadians
• Syrian Orthodox
• migration narratives
• agency
• patriarchal structures

Notes

The positioning of different caste and social class groups within the Christian community illustrate the complexity of individuals within the Christian community. Low-caste conversions, traditionally, tend to be more common among Latin Catholic communities although this is changing.

The language spoken in the state of Kerala is Malayalam and the inhabitants are commonly referred to as Malayalee.

1 Lakh refers to 100,000.00 rupees.