One family in two countries: mothers in Korean transnational families

Abstract

This qualitative study explores Korean transnational families, known as gireogi gah-jok. In this type of family, the mother and her children move to an English-speaking country for the children's education while the father stays and supports his family financially from the country of origin. We conducted interviews with thirteen mothers who resided with at least one adolescent child in the northwest area of the USA. Guided by symbolic interactionism, we examined how women perceived the gireogi family situation separated in the two countries and how their perception influenced their maternal roles as gireogi mothers. Findings indicate that these women reshaped their maternal self and renegotiated gendered roles in response to their residence in the foreign country and physical separation from their husbands. The findings also suggest that participants made an effort to maintain family cohesion by frequent communication using technology and sporadic reunions.

The mental health of Korean transnational mothers: A scoping review

“…'Depression' or 'feeling depressed' was reported in three studies (Y. J. Jeong et al, 2013;J. H. Kim & Chung, 2006), but these studies did not measure or assess the condition.…”

“…This type of family arrangement is distinct from other split-family arrangement in which, for instance, mothers migrate to earn money leaving their families in the home countries (Y. J. Jeong, You, & Kwon, 2013).…”

Editorial introduction: Situated agency in the context of research on children, migration, and family in Asia

“…Children of varying ages and at times with a chaperoning parent (often mothers) move to cities offering English‐medium education in order to pursue an overseas qualification and accumulate essential social and cultural capital (Huang & Yeoh, ; Kang, ). Though these children are at times seen as pawns in their family upgrading project with little interrogation of the[ir] priorities (Dobson, , p. 358), limited studies have drawn attention to their independent agency and ability in becoming the lead migrant in driving the success of this endeavour (Huang & Yeoh, ; Jeong, You, & Young, ; M. Zhou, ).…”

“…Though these children are at times seen as pawns in their family upgrading project with little interrogation of the[ir] priorities (Dobson, 2009, p. 358), limited studies have drawn attention to their independent agency and ability in becoming the lead migrant in driving the success of this endeavour (Huang & Yeoh, 2011;Jeong, You, & Young, 2014;M. Zhou, 1998).…”

Ambiguous Loss Due to Separation in Voluntary Transnational Families

“…Some women find greater flexibility in their navigation of gender roles after migration. Jeong, You, and Kwon () studied Korean gireogi families in which mothers and their young children move to another country for their children's education. The migrating women in their study renegotiated their roles as a result of their new transnational family context.…”