Women's transnational migration and global care chains : the impact of Nicaraguan women's migration to Costa Rica on their families and communities of origin

Abstract

An increased demand for domestic care, and consequently domestic care workers, has occasioned an increased migrant flow of women to meet this demand. This has led to the emergence of what is known as global care chains ; "a series of personal links between people across the globe based on the paid or unpaid work of caring" (Hoschchild, 2000, p. 131). South-South migration of Nicaraguan women to Costa Rica for work in the domestic and care sector has led to significant changes in family and community relations in Nicaragua. This thesis explores the ways in which Nicaraguan migrant women continue to provide care for their children across borders and examines of impacts on Nicaraguan families and communities.