Abstract
This study explores the intricate dynamics of transnational parenting among Zimbabwean Catholic migrants residing in Johannesburg, South Africa. It investigates how faith and the digital world affect their parenting, showing the challenges and strength of families living apart across borders. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilising snowballing and purposive sampling, focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews to gather rich and nuanced data from volunteer participants. Local, regional and international literature was put into conversation to help unpack the unfolding data.
The findings reveal that transnational parenting is often driven by a complex interplay of factors, including economic hardship, political instability, and the pursuit of a better life for their children. The Catholic faith serves as a guiding force for these transnational parents, shaping their values, beliefs, and parenting approaches. Every Catholic is assigned at least one godparent to accompany them in their spiritual journey. Transnational parents are relying heavily on the assistance of godparents as a parenting tool in their absence. The concept of the "domestic church" is central to their understanding of family life, emphasising the importance of creating a nurturing environment where faith can flourish, even in the face of geographical separation. The Catholic theology of the communion of saints, especially during the worship of the Holy Mass is believed to gather the three Churches; that is the Church Triumphant, the Pilgrim Church and the Church Suffering in a single spiritual realm. The understanding of family and home among the Catholic transnational parenting in light of the ‘communion of saints’ transcends the temporal into the eternal realm, thus pushing the boundaries of this research.
The study also underscores the crucial role of the digital space in facilitating transnational parenting. Various digital platforms enable parents to maintain regular communication with their children and spouses back home, bridging the physical distance and fostering a sense of connection. The use of technology has become even more pronounced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its potential to create a "virtual home" where families can gather, for payer, share meals and experiences, and offer support. Furthermore, advances in digital means of remittance has brought the needed convenience to most transnational parents helping them to save time to do other core parental duties.
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However, transnational parenting is not without its challenges. The separation from loved ones can lead to emotional strain, feelings of guilt, and difficulties in maintaining strong family bonds. The study also shows the complexities of navigating exported national historical traumas among Zimbabweans in the diaspora, cultural differences, adapting to new environments, and balancing work commitments with parenting responsibilities. The challenges of transnational parenting are exacerbated where the extended family support structure is fractured, and the single parents seem to feel the pinch the most compared to married couple. In Zimbabwe and in the Catholic Church, Homosexuality is a moral question, and parenting as a same sex couple in this context force families to separate and opt to parent from the diaspora. The phenomena of culture shock and that of third culture faced by adult and young migrants alike in the receiving country have been noted as having causal effects of transnational parenting.
Despite these challenges, Zimbabwean Catholic transnational parents demonstrate remarkable acts of solidarity, resilience and resourcefulness. They leverage their faith, lay ministries, community networks, and digital tools to overcome obstacles and provide for their families. Parenting clubs, stokvels and carpooling are some of the parenting innovations that came out of experience and need among transnational to alleviate their parenting challenges from across borders. The Catholic community in Johannesburg plays a vital role in offering parenting support, parenting guidance, and a sense of belonging to transnational parents.
The study concludes by reflecting on the aspect of fixity among migrants, and the future of Zimbabwean transnational parenting in light of a century long history of the transnational British Caucasian lineage that is on its last leg of returning to their ancestral home. The study also highlights the importance of recognising the unique experiences of transnational families and the need for migration policies and faith programs that support their well-being. It also emphasises the critical role of some of the elements of the Catholic faith and the parenting support role of the faith communities in both the sending and receiving countries. Lastly, Catholic schools have emerged as a plausible parenting partner in terms of academic, faith and home, and the inestimable gap covered by the digital space to facilitate transnational parenting and foster firm family connections across borders is appreciated.