children’s experiences and emotional distress in nicaraguan mother migrant families kristin...
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Children’s Experiences and Emotional Distress in Nicaraguan Mother Migrant Families
Kristin Elizabeth Yarris, MPH, MA
PhD Candidate, UCLA Dept. of Anthropology
May 13, 2010
UC Center of Expertise on Migration and Health Workshop
Feminization of Nicaraguan migration
Contemporary Nicaraguan migratory flows are intra-regional; other Central American nations esp. Costa Rica, along with U.S. and Spain, are primary destinations
Migration is largely motivated by economic “push” factors, including chronic poverty, un/under employment
51% of all Nicaraguan migrants are female, majority of these are women under 30, many of whom leave children behind
For women, domestic violence and/or breakdown in conjugal relationships may precipitate migration
Nicaraguan women migrants work largely in service economy/domestic employment in destination countries
Consequences of mother migration for families left behind
When fathers migrate, children and households left in care of women/mothers/spouses
When mothers migrate, grandmothers and other female kin informally assume caregiving roles
Mother migrants and caregivers back home participate in “global chain of caregiving labor” (Yeates 2005)
Cultural & symbolic significance of mother absence for children
Research questions
Dissertation explores caregiving roles of grandmothers in mother migrant families
This paper focuses on children’s experiences of mother migration
Particular focus: emotional consequences for children
Research design & methods
Dissertation fieldwork (August 2009-August 2010)
Multiple sites: Managua (urban), 2 semi-urban, 1 rural community
Selection criteria: Parent migrant; ≥1 child (aged 6-14 years); Grandmother primary caregiver
Mixed method ethnographic research: structured, semi-structured, informal interviews; standardized health measures; participant observation
Paper draws from child interviews & participant observation with 6 children of mother migrants
Los niño/as
Child age date mother migrated
where mother resides
caregiver
Alejandra 10 Feb. 2010 U.S. paternal
grandmother
Juliana 9 Mar. 2008 Panamá maternal grandmother
Jeremy 11 Feb. 2000 U.S. maternal grandmother
Laleska 11 Nov. 1999 U.S. maternal grandmother
Selso 8 Jan. 1998**born in CR Costa Rica maternal
grandmother
Vanessa 14 Jan. 1998 Costa Rica maternal grandmother
Children’s experiences of “multiple mamás”
“Se tuvo que ir”: Children’s understandings of mother migration
Children understand economic motives for mother migration; mother migrants viewed as sacrificing for children’s wellbeing
“Se tuvo que ir para pagar unos bancos. Tuvo que ir y trabajar allá y mandarle a mi abuela para darme de comer.”
“She had to leave to pay some banks. She had to go and work there and send (money to) my grandma in order to feed me.” --Juliana
Remesas & the complications of transnational communication
Mother migrants send remesas averaging $100 USD/month Remesas have material & affective dimensions (Horton 2008) Transnational families stay in touch using phone & internet;
migrant mothers attempt to “mother from a distance”. (Hondagneu-Sotelo & Avila 1997)
For children, regular remesas and communication differentiate between migrant mothers “abandoning” or being “pendiente” (attentive to) families back home
Transnational communication is complicated by time and distance, children grow apart from mothers, attachments shift
Return visits & the ambivalence of reunification
Migrant returns circumscribed by economic circumstances & migration policies
Visits at holidays or special occasions; highly anticipated by families back home
For children, visits both “alegre” and “triste” -- raise possibility of future reunification, simultaneously remind of pain of initial departure
“reunification” also problematic, implies leaving family, friends
Children’s idioms of distress
Idioms of distress - culturally significant somatic complaints with symbolic & emotional dimensions (Nichter 1981)
“enfermarse” (to get sick)
“pensar mucho” (to think too much)
Children’s expressions of disjunction between cultural expectations and actual lived experiences
“lo siento en mi corazón”
“I feel it in my heart”
A way children physically locate distress in their bodies
An embodiment of “tristeza” (sadness) related to mother migration, ongoing absence
Concluding comments: children as actors in transnational families
Children are social actors in transnational families
Children develop “transnational subjectivities”
Children experience emotional effects over time
Need for psycho-social support
Caregivers & extended families help children cope and “salir adelante” (get ahead)
“aquí me voy a quedar”
“Yo siempre aquí me voy a quedar, yo no me voy a ir. Porque yo sé que aquí están mis familiares. Es aquí dónde yo nací. Y aquí tengo que estar.”
“I’m always going to stay here, I’m not going to leave. Because I know that my family members are here. It’s here where I was born. And here is where I have to be.”
--Vanessa
Acknowledgements
Gracias:
All the families participating in my study for opening their homes and sharing their lives with me
The children discussed here for sharing their tears, their laughs, and their hopes for a better future
Fulbright-IIE and the National Science Foundation (Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant) for supporting my dissertation research
Cándida Gómez of Servicio Jesuita de Migrantes for her intellectual companionship and ongoing inspiration