Migration: The Establishing and Maintaining of Social Networks of Women Burmese Migrant Workers in Chiang Mai City

การย้ายถิ่นข้ามชาติ: การสร้างและธำรงรักษาเครือข่ายทางสังคมของแรงงานหญิงพม่าในเมืองเชียงใหม่

Authors

  • Bongkochmas Ek-lem School of Adminidtrative Studies. Maejo University. Ching Mai. Thailand

Keywords:

migration, social networks, Burmese women workers, mirangrant work

Abstract

This research focuses on migration, the establishing and maintaining of social networks of Burmese women migrant workers in Chiang Mai city. The aims are 1) to explain migration phenomena of Burmese woman migrant workers; 2) to analyze socio-economic motives of the woman migrant workers who migrate to the destination country; and 3) to study the establishing and maintaining of the woman migrant workers’ social networks in an area of the destination.  Mixed method research, including qualitative and qualitative methods, is conducted. The study finds that the political instability situation raised from racial and cultural conflict in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar pushes the migrants to cross the border to Thailand.  The economic hardship of the origin is another key factor that motivates the migrants to migrate to work in Chiang Mai city in Thailand. Considering the motives for migration, the result shows that social motive is lower than economic. While overall level of social motivation is 2.87 on average, economic motivation is 3.724 on average.Generally, before migrating, the migrants have some weak social networks in the destination. However, after migrating, they must establish strong social networks among the transnational migrants to accommodate their needs and adaptation in the unfamiliar situations in the destination. The social networks and social relationships, such as friends and acquaintances, are usually established in a work place, construction site, church, or temple. This study finds ways to strengthen and maintain the social network of Burmese migrant woman workers: 1) the development of environments or situations that stimulate the social networks, social activities, and network managements; 2) the development of network organization and 3) persuade the migrant workers to participate and join as a member in order to help or support their social and economic problems.

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Published

2019-04-23

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Section

บทความวิจัย (Research Article)