Unidad en la diversidadla convivencia de las diferencias culturales en las uniones mixtas

Résumé

Contemporary societies, which are increasingly interconnected at a global scale, confirm human diversity in all its manifestations, one of them being the dynamism of family organization within constituted in the framework of rights and principles that defend its recognition and dignity. The rising number of mixed unions formed by individuals of different national, religious or ethnic backgrounds, has attracted the attention of all scientific domains despite its existence in the evolution of humankind. With the relatively simple objective of knowing how mixed unions these perceive their cultural differences, how they manage them and how differences are transformed in the course of their living together, this dissertation analyses several aspects of couples� life considered individually and in partnership. The study tackles the characteristics of the migration process undertaken by foreign partners, the meeting and conformation of the union, co-existence at an internal and socio-familiar level, the arrival of descendants, future expectations about family life and partnership and, lastly, their views on attained integration. Using a combined methodology and an exploratory and interpretative approach, the partaking population was formed by adults� men and women in mixed unions living in Andalusia, chiefly in the provinces of Huelva and Seville. The results obtained are coincidental with some of the main studies conducted in the national territory. However, some of the definitions that have been used to describe the reality of families culturally mixed in terms of assimilation, heterogamy, among others, are questioned based on the analyses carried out about migratory, formative, professional and union trajectories. Among main conclusions, the dynamism of differences in coexistence process depending on interactions in sociocultural structured contexts is highlighted. Differences overstep stereotyped identity frames to take part into biographies and personal experiences, not being external to historic, social, political and economic influence in production and reproduction of meanings assigned to otherness. At the same time, not all differences are a potential source of conflict, nor do all conflicts have a cultural component; with a low level of conflict which, in addition, has a temporary nature, unions manifest the importance of competences, resources and strategies necessary for their resolution, achieved through efficient communication based on love, intimacy and compromise. This study aims to contribute to the development of scientific knowledge in different areas, fields and disciplines of Social Sciences involved in the study of, and interventions on family, migration, health, education, and gender issues, among others.