Transnational family and the redefinition of gender roles: The case of Bolivian migrants in Spain

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the practices and subjectivities of Bolivian transnational families in Spain. We identify transnational family arrangements in terms of the renegotiation of caregiving responsibilities and the allocation of resources, as well as their impacts on gender roles. Drawing on a multi-site qualitative research design using in-depth interviews with Bolivian migrants and the adult family members left behind, the paper examines two dimensions: changing perceptions on family gender roles in comparison to the premigration stage and changes in practices resulting in a sexual division of labour.