To My Family : A Final Request : Death, Transnationalism, and Mourning

Abstract

This research involves conversations revolving around the topics of death and immigration. Most studies on death and immigration are often studies on the alarming (im)migrants who have settled in the US. This project proposes to expand the conversation about death, body repatriation, identity, and belonging by conducting interviews with (im)migrants living in Los Angeles, CA who are from Oaxaca, MX or other rural communities in Mexico. While each case is different, a goal with the gathered data is to expand the conversation of family and belonging. This project expands the research of death and immigration by researching the different impacts of neoliberalism on death and the different push and pull factors that may influence a person's decision on the location of their final resting site. Finally, shines light on the offspring perspective, their final resting site decision, and how their parents' decision impacts them.