Family without Borders? Asian Women in Migration and the Transformation of Family Life

Abstract

This paper will examine the impact of international female migration on families in Asia. Growing migration of women has been transforming family life in their countries of origin. Drawn from research in North America and Asia, this article will reveal how legal, geographical, and psychological “borders’ have been emerging between migrant women and their families, and transforming their lives. It will also note why the struggles of migrant women and their families will not end, even after they acquire permanent resident status or citizenship in the destination countries. By arguing that even popular policies such as family reunification schemes will not be a panacea for many transnational families, this research will highlight some of the efforts that both sending and receiving states could make to alleviate the plight of these families.

Keywords:

• Migration
• gender
• family
• reunification
• state
• policy