Should I stay or should I go? Housing pathways of highly educated British-Nepalese young adults in London

Abstract

In numerous western societies, leaving the parental home is seen as a crucial element in the life course development of young adults. Transitional practices however vary across different populations. Focusing on the city of London, I will investigate the housing pathways and transitional practices of highly educated British-Nepalese young adults. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 11 highly educated British-Nepalese young adults and 8 British- Nepalese parents, I will display how these housing pathways are significantly shaped by cultural forces and interpersonal relationships. Aiming to contribute to a more inclusive body of life course literature, I present how the individual housing decisions of these young adults are different from the British norm and more embedded in family structures. Moreover, I demonstrate that highly educated British-Nepalese young adults and their parents have different opinions on how the idea of independence is defined.