ABSTRACT
This chapter examines intimate migrations in Asia through the case of marriage migrants and sex workers. We define intimate migrations as cross-border movements that fulfil the intimate needs of individuals, particularly those that pertain to the emotional and sexual realms. Our discussion explains the stigma surrounding intimate migrations, its underlying logic, and legal regimes that impact the lives of intimate migrants. In this chapter, we provide an overview of contemporary intimate migrations from Asia and a summary of the prevailing debates on such migrations. As we illustrate, intimate migrations are often viewed with moral suspicion. We then discuss how stigma impacts the experiences of intimate migrants, highlighting in particular the heightened surveillance of intimate migrants, and address the politics of gender in these migration and citizenship regimes.
