Beyond the American dream: unveiling the complexity of young people’s (im)mobility in Governador Valadares, Brazil

This study explores the often-overlooked phenomenon of immobilitywithin migration studies, focusing on the Governador Valadares Regionof Brazil. Despite the region’s history of significant outmigration to theUnited States, there needs to be more investigation into why someyoung people remain in their communities instead of pursuing theAmerican Dream. Using ethnographic methods, the study search sur-passes simplistic dichotomies of mobility-immobility, recognizing thatdecisions to leave or stay are complex and influenced by various inter-connected factors. By employing the perspectives of ‘linked lives’ and‘life-course situatedness’, the study provides nuanced insights into howindividual choices are affected by familial, social, and economic contextsover time. The findings shed light on the diverse experiences of youngpeople while revealing the carry of involuntary immobility. Furthermore,it contests assumptions that remaining in a particular location signifiesimmobility or a lack of ambition. It contributes to a more nuanced com-prehension of migration agency and well-being, underscoring the multi-faceted nature of aspirations and capabilities. The results illuminate theintricate interplay between personal aspirations and the environment inshaping migration decisions, emphasizing the significance of viewing(im)mobility as a relational and temporally situated phenomenon.