Socio-Cultural Dispositions and Wellbeing of the Women Left Behind: A Case of Migrant Households in Nepal

Abstract

The concept of wellbeing is gaining popularity in the study of quality of life and cultural significance of living. The paper aims to contribute to our understanding of objective and subjective wellbeing by exploring the perceptions of women left behind by out-migrating husbands on their quality of life in a transnational social field. The paper uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Its primary focus is on the life stories of the four women left behind by their migrant husbands, complementing by quantitative data obtained from a survey among 277 households. Taking an example from Nepal’s eastern terai, the paper shows that additional income from remittances has increased the objective wellbeing of the women left behind, but it may not have increased their subjective wellbeing. Hence, it is concluded that improved objective wellbeing of a woman does not necessarily translate into her (improved) subjective wellbeing. The subjective experiences are rather complex, multi-faceted and context specific depending on the family situation, socio-cultural disposition and prior economic situation of the actors involved.

The Effects of Migration on Livelihoods, Land Management, and Vulnerability to Natural Disasters in the Harpan Watershed in Western Nepal

“…Their findings suggested neglect of subsistence farming with access to alternative sources of income and a preference for livestock raising over crop farming. Other studies have found increasing feminization of the agricultural sector, and an increasing workload for women, but also signs of empowerment (Gartaula et al 2010;Adhikari and Hobley 2011;Gartaula et al 2012b;Sharma and Thapa 2013;Tamang et al 2014).…”

The interplay between household food security and wellbeing among small-scale farmers in the context of rapid agrarian change in India

“…Rather, food security is associated with the capability of people to exercise foodrelated choices and enhance their social wellbeing. The concept of social wellbeing embraces both objective and subjective aspects of food security [39,40], which relates to the availability of food, access to food and the ability to use and make effective choices for food and livelihood [41]. The objective dimension of food security emphasizes the ends, or physical availability of food and its ability to meet caloric requirements of individuals in a population.…”

“…This is perhaps due to their lower social status, which cannot be easily changed by a higher monthly income in caste-based rural Indian society. Studies have shown that while a higher household income is helpful in increasing wellbeing up to a certain point, it becomes less significant in terms of increasing long-term life satisfaction [40,52]. Simply put, money does not always play a significant role in contributing to greater wellbeing; other social, cultural and interpersonal factors do also matter.…”

Men on the move and the wives left behind: the impact of migration on family planning in Nepal

“…The decision is a collective one that involves the extended family and is driven by the opportunity of remittances for those left behind. [7][8][9][10] Migration and health researchers cite the complexity of migration on family members left behind. Globally, studies have identified health disparities among women with migrant husbands 11 and negative consequences of migration on other family members' health, 12 children's education, 13 and child wellbeing.…”

“…For example, some wives reported that their mothers-in-law made decisions regarding when a woman with a migrant husband should visit a doctor, attend antenatal care, and who is to accompany them on clinic visits related to their reproductive health. 10 The cultural impact of migration on women's roles is suggested to have rendered women with migrant husbands " … invisible, and their role, experience, well-being, and interconnectedness with the practice of migration are not well understood" 10,22,23 Migration often challenges traditional roles of women at home, as the increased workload for women and dependence on remittances alters the expectations of autonomy and decision-making power. 24 Understanding women's reproductive health and related household decision-making may provide insights on how they manage changing dynamics with inlaws in their husbands' absence.…”