Where do you want to be buried? The myth of return among the second generation

• In Event: 20862 - Section on International Migration Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 15: Citizenship and Transnationalism

Abstract

The “myth of return”—the belief that immigrants long to return to their homeland—has been a central theme in transnational migration studies, reflecting the first generation’s enduring ties to their country of origin. For the second generation, however, this concept is less intuitive. Why would individuals long to return to a place they have never lived in? Yet, an emerging phenomenon reveals that many second-generation individuals express a desire to “return” to ancestral homelands. This paradox presents a sociological puzzle. Burial preferences, as a symbolic measure of identity and belonging, provide a lens to investigate this question. This study explores whether firstborns, often socialized closer to their parents’ migration experiences, show stronger preferences for burial in their ancestral homeland. Younger siblings, growing up in families further along the acculturation process, may feel more attached to the host society. Using data from the French nationally representative TeO2 survey and regression analyses, this study examines how sibling dynamics and birth order influence cross-border attachments. Among the second generation, findings show that lastborns exhibit a significantly higher likelihood of preferring burial in France compared to firstborns, suggesting a stronger attachment to the host country. By framing burial preferences as a proxy of identity, this study demonstrates how immigrant family structure and acculturative processes shape ties to both country of origin and destination.

Author

• Rachel Rammal, McGill University