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Gendering Remittances: Contested Masculinities among Bangladeshi Male Immigrants in New York City

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Migrant Remittances in South Asia

Part of the book series: International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

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Abstract

Monir is a 27-year-old cab driver in New York City. In his spare time, he takes classes at Hunter College, where he is currently finishing his last semester before getting his Bachelor’s degree. Like the majority of Bangladeshis who migrate to the US, Monir won a Diversity Visa (DV) through the lottery in 2004 and came directly to New York to live with his aunt and uncle. When asked why and how he decided to come to the US, Monir explains: ‘My family saved money so I can come to the USA and they pay for the visa which cost $500 at that time. That’s how we make the decision when we come to the USA.’ His upper socio-economic status — not an uncommon characteristic for many Bangladeshi immigrants in the US - allowed him to afford migration costs and settlement at his destination. Monir proudly notes that his family ranks high in Bangladeshi society: ‘ my family, they are high status. This is why I can come here.’ He lives in Jackson Heights, ‘the land of the Bengalis,’ a neighbourhood that has seen its Bangladeshi population explode since 1995.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University, USA

    Natacha Stevanovic-Fenn (PhD in Sociology)

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  1. Natacha Stevanovic-Fenn
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore

    Md Mizanur Rahman (Senior Research Fellow) & Tan Tai Yong (Professor Tan, a historian) (Senior Research Fellow) &  (Professor Tan, a historian)

  2. American University in Cairo, Egypt

    A K M Ahsan Ullah (Associate Director) (Associate Director)

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© 2014 Natacha Stevanovic-Fenn

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Stevanovic-Fenn, N. (2014). Gendering Remittances: Contested Masculinities among Bangladeshi Male Immigrants in New York City. In: Rahman, M.M., Yong, T.T., Ullah, A.K.M.A. (eds) Migrant Remittances in South Asia. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137350800_8

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