Voices Behind Images: Exploring Left-Behind Children’s Lives with Grandparents through Photovoice

Abstract

Today, many children are living with their grandparents in rural hometowns whilst their parents migrate to work in cities. This qualitative study explores these left-behind children’s perspectives of grandparental involvement in their lives through Photovoice. Thirty left-behind children (63% female, mean age = 12 years) in a major labour-sending rural area in southwest China joined five-session Photovoice groups, during which they took photos that best represented their lives with their grandparents. Visual data of eighty-four photos were analysed with thematic analysis. The most prominent themes were living environments and daily routines with grandparents, followed by grandparents’ material support, time spent together, reciprocal support and perceived cultural traditions from the grandparents. Boys highlighted more material support from their grandparents in their shared photos, whereas girls focused more on their perceptions of cultural traditions being passed from their grandparents. This study illustrates the multifaceted nature of intergenerational solidarity and highlights the protective roles grandparents play in left-behind families in the labour migration context. The findings suggest the importance of using strength-based, culturally sensitive social work research (e.g. Photovoice techniques) and practices (e.g. community empowerment) to foster quality grandparental companionship and intergenerational bonding in left-behind families.