Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Integrated Article

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Geography and Environment

Collaborative Specialization

Migration and Ethnic Relations

Supervisor

Godwin Arku

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the changing living conditions of women left behind by their migrant husbands. The dissertation addresses three specific issues: 1) the disruptive effects of husbands’ migration and coping strategies adopted by the left behind women; 2) the changing gender roles and associated dis(empowerment); and 3) the subjective wellbeing of the left behind women. Although migration research has delved into these thematic issues in different spatial contexts, the predominant focus has typically been on international or internal migration or on comparing immigrant households with non-immigrant ones. While these studies provide valuable insights, there are still scholarly gaps in our understanding of the changing living experiences of women left behind married to internal and international migrants. This gap requires investigation because internal and international migration will likely have distinct consequences for populations left behind.

The dissertation employs a mixed-methods approach, drawing on qualitative insights derived from in-depth interviews and quantitative data from surveys with women left behind in Ghana’s Volta Region. The qualitative findings indicate four main disruptive effects experienced by participants: emotional, child-care, economic, and social challenges. While significant variations emerged in the social and economic challenges experienced by the women’s groups, there was consistency in issues relating to emotional and child-care challenges among the groups. The findings also highlighted the role of human agency in dealing with challenges resulting from husbands’ migration.

Concerning women’s empowerment, the qualitative findings show progress in women’s autonomy and spatial mobility following their husbands’ migration. Yet, there are discernible differences concerning access to financial resources and achievement of medium-term goals. Interestingly, wives of intercontinental migrants tend to have better access to financial resources and are more successful in realizing their medium-term future goals than those married to internal and interregional migrants.

Results from quantitative data analysis show that on average, women left behind married to international migrants have higher self-reported health, perceived happiness, and satisfaction with life compared to women left behind married to internal migrants.

In addition to its policy implications for policymakers, this work offers useful contributions to the realms of critical and social geography, gender studies, and migration studies.

Summary for Lay Audience

People migrate for various reasons, including social, environmental, and political. But economic reason is often the main reason that people move within their own country and overseas for a better quality of life for themselves and their families. Most migration studies have focused on how migration economically benefits families left behind to the neglect of the non-economic effects of migration. Existing studies on the non-economic impacts of migration look at how migration of husbands affects wives who are left behind in terms of the challenges they face, their household gender roles and (dis)empowerment, and the impact on their subjective wellbeing. However, many existing studies look at either internal or international migration settings or a comparison of migrant households to non-migrant households. Despite this, researchers are yet to study how husbands’ internal and international migration can impact women left behind differently in terms of the challenges they face and how they cope, gender roles and (dis)empowerment, and their subjective wellbeing.

The present study utilized a mixed method approach involving qualitative and quantitative methods to provide a better understanding of the changing living conditions of Ghanaian women left behind by their migrant husbands. The study answers the fundamental question: “What are the disruptive effects and coping strategies, gender roles and empowerment, and subjective wellbeing of Ghanaian women left behind by their migrant husbands?” Results from the in-depth interviews show that in the absence of husbands, women left behind face challenges such as social, economic, emotional, and childcare difficulties. To deal with the challenges, the women adopt several coping mechanisms. Regarding the issue of women’s empowerment, findings suggest that after their husbands’ migration, the women experience increased autonomy and freedom of mobility. However, variations emerged in issues relating to access to financial resources and achievements of medium-term goals between women’s groups. Results from the quantitative analysis revealed that women left behind by international migrants have higher self-reported health, perceived happiness, and satisfaction with life than women left behind by internal migrants. The findings contribute to migration and wellbeing policymaking, as well as to the fields of social and critical geography, gender studies, and migration studies.

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Available for download on Tuesday, September 01, 2026

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