Left behind or left out? Migrant brides’ worries for their children’s futures in cross-regional marriages in rural Haryana

Cross-regional marriages in rural Haryana, driven by skewed sex ratios, have led to a pattern where women from distant regions and diverse cultural backgrounds, such as ethnic Assamese, Bengalis, or Biharis, are married into local Haryanvi families. This practice echoes broader trends witnessed across East and Southeast Asia. Transcending traditional notions of the family as a culturally sanctioned social network centred on biological and matrimonial ties, these cross-regional unions challenge conventional norms and societal fabric. This paper contends that the marginalization and stigma experienced by these migrant brides severely undermine their children's future opportunities. Through semi-structured interviews with 24 migrant brides, the study identifies significant concerns related to their children's educational attainment, social acceptance, marriage prospects, mental well-being, socialization, and overall life potential. The findings indicate that these children face substantial barriers to realizing their full potential due to inadequate familial support and pervasive societal biases.