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Explanations for Divorce

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Marital Breakdown among British Asians

Part of the book series: Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life ((PSFL))

Abstract

This chapter shines a light on privatized processes of family mediation that unfold in the event of marital conflict. Socio-legal researchers have discussed family mediation as a black box in understandings oflegal pluralism among British Asians, but also regarded itwith suspicion, as a potential source of pressure on women to remain in unhappy or abusivemarriages. The chapter shows that women, and men, claim family mediation as an entitlement contingent on having an arranged marriage, but that it is subject to pragmatic considerations. They also improvise kinship support in love marriages. The chapter concludes that family mediation cannot be characterized either as a centrifugal or centripetal force.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social and Cultural Anthrop, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Kaveri Qureshi

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  1. Kaveri Qureshi
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Qureshi, K. (2016). Explanations for Divorce. In: Marital Breakdown among British Asians. Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57047-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57047-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-57046-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-57047-5

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