A surreal image representing a migrant worker balancing between two cultures.

Culture Shock & Opportunity: How Migrant Workers Balance Worlds

Nico Varela in Culture & Society December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the experiences of subaltern migrants navigating between home and host cultures, challenging consumer norms and seeking social mobility."

In an increasingly interconnected world, the movement of people across national borders has become a defining feature of our time. These global flows of people and goods have sparked significant research into consumer acculturation, exploring how individuals adapt to new cultural environments. However, much of this research overlooks the experiences of subaltern migrants – those who are often marginalized and displaced by economic forces.

Globalization, while offering opportunities for some, can lead to confinement and marginalization for others. This study sheds light on the lives of these "vagabonds," focusing on how they negotiate cultural encounters and resist domination. By examining the experiences of subaltern migrants from Kerala, India, to the Middle East, this article uncovers the complexities of cultural adaptation and the strategies employed to carve out spaces of worth and recognition.

Drawing on French pragmatic sociology and convention theory, this analysis highlights the different interpretations of worth that influence these migrants as they navigate between their home and host cultures. By understanding these dynamics, we can gain deeper insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by subaltern migrants in a globalized world.

Navigating Worth: The Migrant's Balancing Act

A surreal image representing a migrant worker balancing between two cultures.

For subaltern migrants, the concept of "worth" takes on multiple dimensions. In their home culture, worth is often associated with traditions, relationships, and trustworthiness. However, in the host culture, the market world often defines worth through money, consumption, and material success. This creates a tension as migrants strive to maintain their cultural values while also seeking economic advancement.

Migrant workers often employ different strategies to navigate this complex landscape. These strategies include:

Resisting Domination: Migrants may use different regimes of worth and justification to resist domination and shape their cultural encounters.
Shaping Cultural Encounters: They actively shape their cultural experiences by drawing on their values and beliefs.
Challenging Consumer Norms: They challenge existing acculturation research by highlighting the importance of worth and regimes of justification.

By understanding these strategies, we can appreciate the agency and resilience of subaltern migrants in the face of challenging circumstances. They are not merely passive recipients of cultural influence but active agents in shaping their own destinies.

Beyond Stereotypes: Understanding the Migrant Experience

This study challenges simplistic views of migrant acculturation and highlights the importance of understanding the complexities of worth and justification. By giving voice to subaltern migrants, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of globalization and its impact on individuals and communities. It also offers valuable insights for policymakers and organizations seeking to support and empower migrant workers as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of a globalized world.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/0276146718815939, Alternate LINK

Title: Vagabonds At The Margins: Acculturation, Subalterns, And Competing Worth

Subject: Marketing

Journal: Journal of Macromarketing

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Hari Sreekumar, Rohit Varman

Published: 2018-11-29

Everything You Need To Know

How do migrant workers from Kerala balance their values from home with new consumer expectations in the Middle East?

Migrant workers from Kerala navigate the tension between their home culture, where worth is tied to traditions and relationships, and the host culture in the Middle East, where worth is often measured by money and material success. They employ strategies to resist domination and actively shape their cultural experiences, drawing on their values and beliefs to challenge consumer norms. This approach emphasizes the importance of 'worth' and 'regimes of justification' which are often overlooked in traditional acculturation research. Understanding this balance is crucial for appreciating the agency and resilience of these subaltern migrants.

What does it mean to be a 'subaltern migrant,' and how does globalization affect them?

A 'subaltern migrant' refers to individuals who are often marginalized and displaced by economic forces within the broader context of global migration. Globalization, while offering opportunities, can also lead to confinement and marginalization for subaltern migrants. Research focuses on how these migrants negotiate cultural encounters and resist domination, specifically examining those from Kerala to the Middle East. This work highlights the complexities of cultural adaptation and the strategies employed to carve out spaces of worth and recognition in a globalized world.

How does French pragmatic sociology and convention theory help in understanding the experiences of migrant workers?

French pragmatic sociology and convention theory provide a framework for understanding the different interpretations of 'worth' that influence migrant workers as they move between their home and host cultures. This theoretical lens allows for an analysis of how migrants navigate conflicting values and expectations. By understanding these dynamics, deeper insights are gained into the challenges and opportunities faced by subaltern migrants in a globalized world, moving beyond surface-level observations.

In what specific ways do migrant workers challenge existing consumer norms and resist cultural domination?

Migrant workers challenge existing consumer norms by actively shaping their cultural experiences and drawing on their values and beliefs. They utilize different 'regimes of worth' and 'justification' to resist domination. These strategies highlight the importance of 'worth' in cultural encounters, enriching acculturation research and demonstrating migrant agency. This resistance involves a conscious effort to maintain their cultural identity while adapting to a new environment, showcasing a dynamic interplay between assimilation and preservation of heritage.

Why is it important to move beyond stereotypes when studying migrant acculturation, and what new perspectives does this approach offer?

Moving beyond stereotypes in the study of migrant acculturation is crucial for understanding the complexities of 'worth' and 'justification' in their experiences. This approach gives voice to subaltern migrants, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of globalization and its impact on individuals and communities. By acknowledging the agency and resilience of migrants, research provides valuable insights for policymakers and organizations seeking to support and empower migrant workers navigating the challenges and opportunities of a globalized world. This fosters a recognition of migrants as active agents rather than passive recipients of cultural influence.