Between tradition and transition: The transformation of masculine identity among Pakistani migrants in Istanbul

The South Asian migrant experience has been heavily researched in a post-colonial, and post-9/11, context in the U.S., Europe, and UAE. While previous scholarship has investigated their experiences as labor migrants, there continues to be limited research on how migration reshapes masculine identities outside of these transnational contexts. This study investigates the experiences of Pakistani men utilizing Istanbul as a transit or permanent destination. Through a qualitative approach, the research analyzes how socioeconomic dynamics and cultural narratives influence Pakistani migrant men's journeys and their sense of masculine identities over time. Through semi-structured interviews, it examines men's masculine perceptions before, during, and after migration; the roles of smuggling networks and community; and the impact of transnational relationships on gender roles. This research contributes to the larger field of gender and migration studies by highlighting the fluidity of masculine identity in (transitory) migration settings, revealing how Pakistani men in Istanbul (re) negotiate their sense of belonging in ways that challenge, or reaffirm, their understanding of traditional gender norms concerning their personal desires and familial obligations. Keywords: Migration, Gender, Pakistan, Masculinity, Belonging, Aspirations, Family