Ties that bind, lines that divide: Bangladeshi labour migrants, Malaysian spouses, and the new contours of racialization

We investigate the racialization of a migrant “other” centred, not on phenotype, but nationality, in context Malaysia, an ethnically diverse host society. Our case study comprises Bangladeshi male labour migrants who, as transient low-skilled workers, face restrictions pursuing marriage and entrepreneurship. As Muslims, these draw their co-religious congruence with Malay-Muslim majority to traverse restrictions, gaining degree success marrying Malaysian women becoming entrepreneurs. Drawing from narratives citizen spouses, we examine how they take advantage intersectional positioning at nexus race, religion, nationality overwrite navigate national anxieties. Leveraging entrepreneurship, spouses re-interpret existing racial discourses mutual pursuit social mobility. While partnerships may be socioculturally contentious, are nevertheless economically interdependent, opening up space for countering racisms.