Belonging for Single Migrant Men: A Cross-Country Comparative Perspective (MENBELONG)

The successful integration of migrant populations requires that individuals who permanently relocate to a host country develop a sense of belonging. This involves not only economic and legal integration, but also the sharing of values, practices, and social networks with others. Single men form the largest group within global migration flows but face the harshest challenges to successful integration and belonging. They are frequently viewed as taking away opportunities from citizens and are deprioritized in social services in favour of families and women. They are also often stereotyped as hypersexualized or criminal. In the face of these obstacles, single migrant men create a range of unique belonging strategies that take place outside family networks and formal integration processes. Yet existing migration research tends to focus on the experience of women and families and the integration of specific groups of migrant men (usually Muslim) in Western democracies. As a result, we know very little about how single migrant men develop a sense of belonging outside of these restricted contexts. In this project, I investigate single migrant men’s experiences of belonging across five countries that have experienced abrupt, large scale migration flows and that have different gender equality levels and integration policies. These groups include Syrians in Türkiye, Mexicans in Canada, Turks in Germany, Myanmarese in Thailand, and Venezuelans in Chile. My team includes country experts from the disciplines of migration studies, anthropology, sociology, gender studies, and community mental health with expertise in archival research, experimental surveys, interviews and photovoice. I draw on these perspectives to develop a theory of migrant belonging. This comprehensive approach will impact theories of migration and gender by providing intersectional and international insights into how single migrant men develop a sense of belonging in the face of serious challenges.