Transnational material practices of Estonians in Finland
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: The master’s thesis approaches border-crossing material practices of Estonians living and working in Finland through material culture research and the notion of transnationalism, and with an anthropological stance. As the immigration of Estonians into Finland is constantly increasing, the aim is to explore what kind of material objects do they carry from Estonia to Finland and vice versa, as well as to find out to what practices and processes these objects are connected. The thesis analyses cross-border relations, processes and practices with the help of transnational material practices in order to perceive how transnationalism is a part of everyday life of Estonians. Thus, the process of formation of the transnational space is also explored. The data of the research was collected by semi-structured interviews, group discussions, following social media and keeping fieldwork diary. Eighteen people were interviewed during the fieldwork, five of whom were key informants. Three of them were female at the age of 27–50+ and two were male at the age of 40 and 58. The data was collected in Greater Helsinki, Lahti and on ferries between Helsinki and Tallinn, from August up to December 2014. The thesis used content analysis as a data analysis method. The analysis indicates that the border-crossing material practices of the informants are interconnected with structuring the everyday life, relations and transnational process both in Estonia and Finland. The study concludes that the objects which were carried and are carried from Estonia to Finland operate as parts of the processes materializing the past, establishing continuity and managing cross-border social relations. Such objects and the practice of using them expand the temporal and spatial agency and belonging of the migrants and the persons somehow related to them which appears in the fact that these objects are linked to a certain time, place and person. According to the study the continuity of taste preferences and habits is created with the help of the foodstuffs and objects which are carried to Finland on an ongoing basis. The data also indicates that the sense of home and belonging both in Finland and Estonia is constituted through certain transnational material practices. The thesis also focuses on the objects that are carried from Finland to Estonia and on material practices conducted in Estonia. Such objects are often carried at request or for a gift and used to help to maintain social relations, express affection and pursue conventional social practices. Continuing using certain services, which give a material result, especially in Estonia is interpreted as a part of processes that ensure continuity, maintain connections and organize sense of belonging in Estonia. The analysis concludes that the transnational material practices are part of the process establishing and maintaining the transnational space between Estonia and Finland. It is stated in the study that material culture as an approach offers a diverse and context-specific perspective on the cross-border practices and attachments of migrants. The study thus illustrates the potency of such focus to analyse different sociocultural, political and economic aspects of the phenomenon.
Source: Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Author: Sten Kauber
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2619673532