The Gender Paradox in the Transnational Families of Filipino Migrant Women

Abstract

This article examines the division of labor in the transnational families of migrant mothers from the Philippines using interviews with young adult children and guardians in 30 mother-away transnational families. It looks closely at the work of fathers, migrant mothers, eldest daughters, and extended kin to show that caring practices in the transnational families of migrant women perpetuate conventional gender norms of the family. As it specifically shows that the work of women both at home and abroad maintains transnational migrant families, this article establishes that women's migration has not led to a more egalitarian division of labor in the family.