Title: Emboldened journeys: the effects of return migration on female empowerment in Cochabamba, Bolivia

Authors: Maria Isabel Balderrama; Gery Nijenhuis

Addresses: International Development Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands ' International Development Studies, Department of Human Geography and Planning, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract: This article analyses, on the basis of empirical fieldwork, the impact of return migration on the empowerment position of Bolivian female return migrants from the City of Cochabamba. It challenges the dominant discourse on migration and female empowerment, emphasising the empowerment processes while being 'away'. Using Charmes and Wieringa's (2003) empowerment model, we explore the empowerment processes of women upon return. We argue that the majority of the women experience economic empowerment during their departure and stay abroad. Upon return, however, this form of empowerment can only be attained by splitting up with their partners, thus also affecting their social empowerment position. As such, the article contributes to the body of knowledge on empowerment as a process, which aligns with the current practice of migration as a nonlinear process, with people moving back and forth.

Keywords: gender; Bolivia; return migration; female empowerment; women roles; economic empowerment; social empowerment; return migrants; female migrants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSDS.2016.079905

International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2016 Vol.1 No.4, pp.349 - 364

Received: 14 Jul 2015
Accepted: 14 Apr 2016
Published online: 20 Oct 2016 *

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