Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan

Labor migration is generally motivated by the prospect of higher earnings abroad, and many migrants support their left-behind household members through remittances. Migrants’ long-term absence from home may, however, also affect intra-household dynamics among those remaining behind. Relying on prima...

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Autores principales: Lambrecht, Isabel B., Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru, Pechtl, Sarah, Teirlinck, Charlotte
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175568
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author Lambrecht, Isabel B.
Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru
Pechtl, Sarah
Teirlinck, Charlotte
author_browse Lambrecht, Isabel B.
Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru
Pechtl, Sarah
Teirlinck, Charlotte
author_facet Lambrecht, Isabel B.
Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru
Pechtl, Sarah
Teirlinck, Charlotte
author_sort Lambrecht, Isabel B.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Labor migration is generally motivated by the prospect of higher earnings abroad, and many migrants support their left-behind household members through remittances. Migrants’ long-term absence from home may, however, also affect intra-household dynamics among those remaining behind. Relying on primary qualitative data as well as quantitative data from 938 married women, we analyze empowerment impacts of migration on women in rural southern Tajikistan. Tajikistan is one of the most remittance-dependent countries in the world. A large share of young men migrates internationally, leaving behind – and often supporting – a multi-generational household. Yet, strong social norms limit the decision-making power and mobility of women, particularly of young women. Whereas senior women report noticeable differences when their spouses migrate, this is far less so for young women who live with their parents-in-law. Our study demonstrates that accounting for a respondent’s position within the household is key to understanding empowerment outcomes of its members.
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spelling CGSpace1755682025-12-08T09:54:28Z Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan Lambrecht, Isabel B. Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru Pechtl, Sarah Teirlinck, Charlotte migration gender households women's empowerment Labor migration is generally motivated by the prospect of higher earnings abroad, and many migrants support their left-behind household members through remittances. Migrants’ long-term absence from home may, however, also affect intra-household dynamics among those remaining behind. Relying on primary qualitative data as well as quantitative data from 938 married women, we analyze empowerment impacts of migration on women in rural southern Tajikistan. Tajikistan is one of the most remittance-dependent countries in the world. A large share of young men migrates internationally, leaving behind – and often supporting – a multi-generational household. Yet, strong social norms limit the decision-making power and mobility of women, particularly of young women. Whereas senior women report noticeable differences when their spouses migrate, this is far less so for young women who live with their parents-in-law. Our study demonstrates that accounting for a respondent’s position within the household is key to understanding empowerment outcomes of its members. 2025-07-09 2025-07-09T17:43:42Z 2025-07-09T17:43:42Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175568 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168433 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168186 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/163672 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/162924 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Lambrecht, Isabel B.; Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru; Pechtl, Sarah; and Teirlinck, Charlotte. 2025. Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2347. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175568
spellingShingle migration
gender
households
women's empowerment
Lambrecht, Isabel B.
Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru
Pechtl, Sarah
Teirlinck, Charlotte
Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan
title Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan
title_full Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan
title_fullStr Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan
title_full_unstemmed Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan
title_short Double burden or Newfound freedom? Women’s empowerment amid large-scale male labor migration from rural Tajikistan
title_sort double burden or newfound freedom women s empowerment amid large scale male labor migration from rural tajikistan
topic migration
gender
households
women's empowerment
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175568
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