The social effects of remittances on households of female migrant workers in the Myanmar-China border | |
| Author | Kaythi Min Din |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-06-04 |
| Subject(s) | Migrant remittance--Social aspects--Myanmar Migrant labor--Social aspects--Myanmar Women employees--Social aspects--Myanmar |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-06-04 |
| Abstract | Land scarcity, high risk in market competition for agricultural products and the impacts of environmental degradation have become risks for local people. Combining with lack of job opportunities, women in Lashio Township, Myanmar, increasingly opt to work in China border towns as an alternative way to provide for their families as workers and as temporary wives of Chinese men. This study focuses on the effects of remittances from women migrant workers in Myanmar-China border area on their families left behind in Lashio Township. Remittances are important resources for households' welfare such as for food security, income security and social security. Remittances are evidence and indicators of the kinship obligation of women migrant workers. Remittances also serve to 'save face' for temporary wives and their children. Existing household structure, traditional norms, cultural value and socially constructed gender division of labor mediate the effects of the remittances from women migrant workers within the household. Bargaining power of women migrant workers is strongly influenced by ethnic norms. Although capacity of sending remittances makes women to become economically independent persons, they are still subordinate in position under ethnic norms and values. Benefits from the remittances are not equally distributed among the beneficiaries within the household members, which are depended upon unequal gender power relation within the household. However, contradictory gender effects from ethnic norms and value limit the authority of women migrant workers to control over remittances and benefit of remittances within the household. Although remittances from women migrant workers are important source to contribute for community and religious affairs, they do not have high position among the community. Remittances can prevent from shocks and risks within the household and which give future income security for household. Under the influence of ethnic norms and socially constructed gender norms, remittances could not challenge the traditional gender role of women within the households and community. |
| Year | 2006 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-06-04 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Resurreccion, Bernadette P. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Earth, Barbara Routray, Jayant Kumar |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Cetana Educational Foundation, USA |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |