| Author | Nguyen Thi Hai Yen |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-08-19 |
| Subject(s) | Migrant labor--Thailand--Bangkok
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| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the re quirements for the degree of Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-08-19 |
| Abstract | This research examine experiences of illegal Vietnamese service workers who travel back and forth frequently between the two countries (Vietnam-Thailand). They do temporary and low-paid job, have low education and undergo a low level of interaction with Thai people due to their illegal status. The social reality which they are situated in creates special conditions and constraints for the formation of their networks and the preservation of their community identity in Thailand. In this vein, my analysis frames these experiences in terms of a transnational community identity in which gendered practices play an important role in shaping the nature of the community identity. My evidence shows that gendered practices tend to reproduce relations that confine women to their traditional gender roles under the threat of a perceived more liberal "culture" (Thailand). These practices owe their legitimacy from a reality in which women's perceived "loose" (unstable) living conditions and ability to exert control over resources creates a paradox for controllers. Placing women as markers for the Vietnamese identity seems to be the most effective way of curtailing resistance. In view of the fact that migrant communities are not homogeneous, the pace of the migrants' negotiation and adaptation might vary depending on the socio-economic context of the community members at both origin and destination place. Existing exclusion and inclusion mechanisms are refined in the destination area to cover perceived "eligible" individuals or omit "ineligible" members. An entire community may also be included or excluded based on class, language and culture. This research discerns a number of aspects requiring further investigation. Illegal migrants' voices point to a possible livelihood crisis in rural areas of Vietnam whereby without temporal labour migrations the household cannot survive. It suggests the need to revisit rural reforms, their gendered meanings of livelihoods as well as the significance of economic and cultural meanings of temporary or circular migration |
| Year | 2008 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-08-19 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Resurreccion, Bernadette; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ahmad,Mokbul Morshed;Doneys, Philippe; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Norway; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2008 |