Abstract
This paper measures the patterns and explores the challenges, strategies, and impact of distant caregiving to elderly parents by Bangladeshi migrants residing in Poland and Germany. Providing care to ageing parents and meeting their needs is a deeply ingrained prevalent social and religious value while it is also a legal obligation in Bangladesh. Existing studies on transnational filial care primarily focus on the effects of globalisation and immigration policies on younger migrant parents, overlooking the dynamics and implications of adult migrants caring for their ageing parents in a transnational context, with significant repercussions for their personal and professional well-being. This paper delves into the collective experience of this migrant group in Germany and Poland through the lens of phenomenology by employing a multimethod convergence of semi-structured interviews and an online survey. The study identifies the patterns of fulfilling filial obligations by migrants based in these two central and Eastern European countries, shedding light on the roles played by the cultural, political and social structures of both sender and receiver countries. This study critically examines the role of filial piety as a value in shaping the migrants’ aspirations.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Aging, Filial Piety, Transnationalism, Life Course
