Gender and Migration: The Reconfigured Role of African Women in Diasporic Family Structures

ABSTRACT : This study investigates the shifting dynamics of gender roles and family organisation among African migrant women in the diaspora. Drawing on transnational feminist theory and a qualitative multi-sited methodology, the research explores how migration alters women‟s family responsibilities, agency, and cultural identities. Case studies from African women residing in the United Kingdom, Germany, United States and Canada reveal a paradoxical process in which traditional gender norms are simultaneously challenged and reinforced. Women emerge as key providers and caregivers, but continue to navigate cultural expectations of domesticity and respectability. Findings also highlight the emotional labour of long-distance motherhood and the tensions between generations over gendered values. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on gender, migration, and transnational familyhood, offering critical insights for policymakers and diaspora communities seeking more equitable gender engagements.

KEYWORDS: Gender roles, African diaspora, Migration, Transnational families, Women‟s agency, Kondi – Gulei