Rural-to-Urban Migrations and the Return of Migrants Back Home: A Case Study of Return Migrants from Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand

Abstract

Rural-to-urban migration is a common occurrence in Northeastern Thailand, the region also known as “Isan.” Isan rural villagers, after finishing the rice harvest, regularly migrate to urban areas in Thailand or overseas to seek jobs and additional sources of income. Seasonal migration is a common strategy used by Isan young women to make a living. When they reach middle age, however, women migrants often choose to return to their homes in rural villages to live with their families. This paper examines the experiences of ten Isan rural-to-urban female migrants. These women present their experiences of migration and explain the effects of migration on their identities, values, worldviews and gender roles. They finished primary school and were single and young when they first migrated to urban areas to be factory workers. However, after they had children and reached middle age, most decided to return home to rural areas where they made a living. Therefore, rural-to-urban migration is a livelihood strategy adopted by young Isan women to seek better lives. Because factory workers earn higher incomes than those working in agriculture, woman migrants can send remittances to their families in rural areas which can be used to renovate houses and buy additional pieces of land as well as daily life necessities. Therefore, rural-to-urban migrations allow these women to fulfill their gender roles as dutiful daughters, good wives and responsible mothers in accordance with social expectations of women’s gender roles in traditional society. Moreover, rural-to-urban migration allows these migrants to have cosmopolitan experiences and develop new skills. After having learned how to manage their capital, time, knowledge and social networks, theycan apply these skills to transform themselves into small rural entrepreneurs when they re-settle at home in rural areas.