Belonging Beyond Productivity

Rabia's worth was never measured by her output or market value; her spiritual status transcended economic metrics. In capitalist diaspora contexts where migrants are often valued instrumentally—as workers, taxpayers, or cultural ambassadors—this principle becomes radically countercultural. Found families built on Rabia's model welcome members who are ill, disabled, undocumented, unemployed, or otherwise economically marginal. Their belonging doesn't depend on contributing labor or resources. This creates sanctuary for people whom the broader society deems 'unproductive.' It also prevents the extraction dynamics that sometimes corrupt found families, where members are valued for what they provide rather than who they are. By explicitly practicing non-transactional belonging, diaspora communities build resilience for members facing employment barriers, health crises, or legal precarity. This creates economic diversity within found families—some members may provide material resources, others emotional labor, others spiritual guidance—all equally necessary and valued.