Abstract
This study explores the vulnerability of migrant workers returning to Bangladesh through the lens of van Houte and Davids’ (2008) embeddedness framework. Centering women’s narratives offers a feminist method of embeddedness, focusing on the economic, social, and psychosocial dimensions of returning migrants’ experiences. This paper addresses the vulnerabilities experienced by women upon their return, particularly those returning from the Middle East. Drawing on qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 30 Bangladeshi women domestic workers, this study identifies two primary causes for their return from the Middle East to Bangladesh: coercion by family members and coercion by employers. The findings indicate that women forced to return by family members tend to experience greater economic vulnerability. In contrast, those compelled to return by their employers in the Middle East face heightened social and psychosocial challenges. Highlighting the significance of context, especially in studies from the Global South, this paper provides critical insights into the complex vulnerabilities of return migration and offers policy recommendations to support reintegration efforts.
Recommended Citation
Nawaz, Faraha and Tonny, Tania Afrin
(2025)
"Unveiling the Vulnerability of Return Migration: A Feminist Embeddedness Perspective on Bangladeshi Women Workers,"
Journal of International Women's Studies: Vol. 27:
Iss.
4, Article 11.
Available at:
https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol27/iss4/11