1216–9803/$ 20.00 © 2014 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest Acta Ethnographica Hungarica, 59 (2), pp. 271–297 (2014) DOI: 10.1556/AEthn.59.2014.2.2 THE STUDY OF THREE GENERATIONAL SWABIAN AND HUNGARIAN MARITAL MOBILITY IN A PEST COUNTY VILLAGE Barbara SÓLYOM Corvinus University of Budapest Közraktár u. 4–6, H-1093 Budapest, Hungary E-mail: barbara.solyom@uni-corvinus.hu Abstract: The topic of this study is social mobility, namely the analysis of marital mobility in a multinational village, mostly inhabited by Swabians and Hungarians: Dunabogdány. The article is based on empirical fieldwork and the analysis of historical sources. Social structure, social stratification and mobility represent a voluminous field of research in social sciences embracing multiple dimensions. The relating theories and researches also treat the issue of marital mobility; some super ficially, some in more detail. Nonetheless, marital mobility as such is researched only by a few. This study aims to show that marital mobility can only be properly interpreted through the overall consideration of social mobility; however, certain case studies on marital mobility might allow us to get a better and deeper understanding of social mobility. In my research I examine the factors that affect marriage-related social mobility, try- ing to identify new, hidden components to this phenomenon. I discovered such “new”, prominent factors influencing social mobility in a Swabian village in Pest County called Dunabogdány. In my analysis I will discuss ethnicity, religion and financial status, as well as the forced relocations (1947) significantly marking the lives of the villagers, and their collective and complex effect on partner selection, marriage and social mobility. I will relate these aspects to three generations by comparing their memories and experiences. Keywords: social mobility, marital mobility, spouse selection, marriage, Dunabogdány, Swabian ethnicity, forced relocation FOREWORD It was in relation to my studies of the researches and analyses of marital mobility in Hungary that it first occurred to me to explore this issue in Dunabogdány. The local scientific research examines the determining factors concerning spouse se- lection; the factors we consider when choosing the person we spend our lives with. Some think the process of choosing a life partner is guided by our conception of the ideal spouse. Others explain the patterns of spouse selection with the needs and basic characteristics of individuals: similarities in character justify the choice of the partner; or according to other Unauthenticated | Downloaded 05/08/20 02:40 PM UTC