Motherhood and Social Networks; female Dominican transnational migration to the Netherlands

By Maria Luz Gutiérrez

Female transnational migration of Dominican single and divorced mothers from a matrifocal background is understood through this research to be a livelihood strategy, in order to fulfil their role as breadwinners and caregivers. This transnational migration creates a transnational household where in the household of origin a reorganisation of tasks takes place. Based on the nature of these transnational households, responsibilities of the migrants are passed on to the other female household members, usually to the mother and/or sister. This leads to the creation of new ways of upbringing and caring for the children of the migrants, and as a result of the physical separation involved the role of transnational motherhood is established. In this realm of migration female kin social networks play a crucial role in maintaining the transnational household, which is facilitated by means of regular communication between the family and the migrants.
These networks are also crucial for the entire process of migrating, covering emotional, practical and financial support, together with the transmission of knowledge from one country to another. The main goal of these female mother migrants travelling to the Netherlands is the wellbeing of their children. For that reason remittances play an important role in the life of the families of the household in the place of origin, and of the migrants themselves in the host country. Ultimately remittances is the cause for
some women of my research to enter the sex sector in the Netherlands, in order to be able to send money home to cover basic needs, such as food, schooling, bills and medicines.

motherhood and social networks.pdf