Feminization of Migration: Experiences of Left-Behind Women in Pakistan

Abstract

The existing literature in migration discourse predominantly focuses on the victimization of left-behind women. This study challenges the narrative by highlighting their autonomy, self-confidence, and resilience. Thus, the study investigates the experiences of the women left behind in Pakistan’s urban regions after the migration of their spouses by utilizing the amalgamated theoretical framework of Transnational Feminist Theory and Social Role Theory. Relying on structured interviews of seven women aged 23-45 residing in Capital territory, Islamabad, Pakistan, this social and behavioral qualitative research interrogates how globalization and local patriarchal customs converge to redefine gender roles, responsibilities, and identities. The study indicates that the left-behind women are not passive victims. Despite the emotional burden and social pressure, they prove to be highly capable individuals with extraordinary skills. Education is a contributing factor in boosting women’s confidence and giving them agency and decision-making power. This study provides an extension to the transnational feminist framework suggested by Grewal and Kaplan, as well as by Parreñas, and the addition of Social Role Theory facilitates the elaboration of behavioral adaptations in the left-behind women. Therefore, the study offers a nuanced comprehension of the feminization of migration. This research challenges the universalist notions generated by Western society that focus on the victimhood of women in the global South, especially Pakistani women, thereby advocating for an intersectional and context-dependent approach in migration studies. The findings demand policy interventions, educational support, and community awareness to ease the burden of left-behind women. Thus, to empower these women, governmental action and community engagement are required.