Home⇛Social Sciences and Development Review Journal⇛vol. 16 no. 1 (2024)

Across Borders: Understanding Transnational Fathering of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Fathers

Kristine L. Andaya | Marilag M. Baricaua | Charlote L. Marquez

Discipline: Cultural Studies

 

Abstract:

This research sought to understand the lived experiences of OFW fathers in transnational fathering and explore their motivations and the decision-making process that resulted in their intention and willingness to work abroad despite having to leave their children behind. This study also aimed to describe their ideal construct of a father and how they negotiate this construct with their actual experiences as an OFW father. Nine (9) OFW fathers were interviewed regarding their experiences as OFWs who practice fathering from a distance. In agreement with the premises of Lee’s theory of migration, the OFW father’s decision to work overseas despite leaving their children behind was revealed to have been influenced by the disadvantageous conditions in the Philippines and personal factors as well. The study found that OFW fathers’ construction of fatherhood is a mixture of role expectations derived from both traditional and “new” fatherhood discourses. Some of the role expectations in this construction of an ideal father, however, prove to be unattainable because of the transnational nature of their parental engagement. As a result, to maintain and reconfirm their identity, they tend to restructure their practices, further internalizing a more contemporary version of a father. Finally, the study illustrates some facets of the labor migration experience among OFW fathers and its implications for their families.



References:

  1. Asis,  Maruja  M.B.  2017.  “The  Philippines:  Beyond  Labor  Migration,  toward Development and (Possibly) Return.” Migrationpolicy.org. September 12, 2017. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/philippines-beyond-labor-migration-toward-development-and-possibly-return
  2. Bryceson, Deborah Fahy. 2019. “Transnational Families Negotiating Migration and Care Life Cycles across Nation-State Borders.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies45 (16): 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183x.2018.1547017
  3. Cabanes, Jason Vincent A., and Kristel Anne F. Acedera. 2012. “Of Mobile Phones and Mother-Fathers: Calls, Text Messages, and Conjugal Power Relations in Mother-Away Filipino Families.” New Media & Society 14 (6): 916–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444811435397
  4. Cano, Tomás. 2022. “Social Class, Parenting, and Child Development: A Multidimensional Approach.” Research in Social Stratification and Mobility 77 (0276-5624): 100648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2021.100648
  5. Christou, Anastasia, and Eleonore Kofman. 2022. Gender and Migration. IMISCOE Research Series. Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91971-9
  6. Dalisay, Soledad Natalia, and Michael L. Tan. 2021. “Beyond Push and Pull: The Narratives, Aspirations, and Remittance Practices of OFWs in Hong Kong and Taiwan and Their Families.” Asian Studies. https://asj.upd.edu.ph/mediabox/earlyview/Beyond_Push_Pull_Narratives_Aspirations_Remittance_Practices_OFW_Hong_Kong_Taiwan_Families.pdf
  7. Domingo, Ronnel W. 2023. “Jobless Rate Rose to 4.8% in January 2023.” INQUIRER.net. March 9, 2023. https://business.inquirer.net/390130/jobless-rate-rose-to-4-8-in-january-2023
  8. Encinas-Franco, Jean. 2016. “Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as Heroes: Discursive Origins of the ‘Bagong Bayani’ in the Era of Labor Export.” Humanities Diliman: A Philippine Journal of Humanities 12 (2). https://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/humanitiesdiliman/article/view/4907
  9. Gelles, Richard J. 1994. Contemporary Families. 1st ed. SAGE Publications, Inc.
  10. Guthrie, George G., and Fortunata M. Azores. 1968. “Philippine Interpersonal Behavior Patterns.” Institute  of  Philippine  Culture.  Institute  of  Philippine  Culture. https://www.pssc.org.ph/wp-content/pssc-archives/Institute%20of%20Philippine%20Culture/Papers/Modernization-Its%20Impact%20I%20(No.%206)/Phil.%20Interpersonal%20Behavior%20Patterns.pdf
  11. Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies. 2005. “Migration of Health Workers: Country Case Study Philippines.” Working paper. http://www.ilo.org/sector/Resources/publications/WCMS_161163/lang--en/index.htm
  12. Jocson, Rosanne M. 2020. “Filipino Fathers’ Parenting in the Context of Household and Neighborhood Risk: Familism as a Protective Factor.” Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology 26 (4): 431–66. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000332
  13. Massey, Douglas S., Joaquin Arango, Graeme Hugo, Ali Kouaouci, Adela Pellegrino, and J. Edward Taylor. 1993. “Theories of International Migration: A Review and  Appraisal.” Population  and  Development  Review  19  (3):  431–66. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2938462
  14. Orbeta, Aniceto Jr, Michael Cabalfin, and Michael Abrigo. 2009. “Institutions Serving Philippine International Labor Migrants.” Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Discussion Papers Series, No. 2009-31.
  15. Parreñas,  Rhacel.  S.  2008.  “Transnational  Fathering:  Gendered  Conflicts,  Distant Disciplining and Emotional Gaps.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 34 (7): 1057–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691830802230356
  16. Parreñas, Rhacel S. 2010. “Transnational Mothering: A Source of Gender Conflicts in the Family.” North Carolina Law Review 88 (5): 1825-56.
  17. Philippine Statistics Authority. 2020. “12 Percent of Filipino Households Have an OFW Member  (Results  from  the  2018  National  Migration  Survey)  |  Philippine Statistics  Authority.”  Psa.gov.ph.  Philippine  Statistics  Authority.  2020. https://psa.gov.ph/content/12-percent-filipino-households-have-ofw-member-results-2018-national-migration-survey
  18. Philippine  Statistics  Authority.  2022.  “2021  Overseas  Filipino  Workers  (Final Results).”  Psa.gov.ph.  Philippine  Statistics  Authority.  December  2,  2022. https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/survey-overseas-filipinos
  19. Santos,  Ana.  2014.  “Philippines:  A  History  of  Migration.”  Pulitzer  Center.  2014. https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/philippines-history-migration.
  20. Shih,  Kristy  Y.  2015.  “Transnational  Families.” Encyclopedia  of  Family  Studies,  1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119085621.wbefs177 
  21. Stark, Oded, and David E. Bloom. 1985. “The New Economics of Labor Migration.” The American Economic Review 75 (2): 173–78. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1805591
  22. Tan, Allen L. 1994. “Four Meanings of Fatherhood.” Philippine  Sociological  Review 42 (1/4): 27–39. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41853661
  23. Zinn, Maxine Baca, D Stanley Eitzen, and Barbara Wells. 2004. Diversity  in  Families. 7th ed. Allyn & Bacon.

Tools


Copyright © 2025  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic