Wives Left Behind: Filipino Women with Migrant Husbands

Abstract

Male Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) migration reshapes family dynamics, forcing left-behind wives to manage households and assume paternal roles. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of ten middle-aged women in Lucban, Quezon, whose husbands work abroad. Using a narrative approach guided by Family Resilience Theory, the research identifies personal struggles and analyzes how paternal migration alters family structures. Findings reveal a stark contrast: while remittances ensure financial stability, they fail to offset the heavy emotional and psychological burdens placed on these women. Key challenges emerge as critical to their lived experience, including decision-making autonomy, marital dissatisfaction and infidelity, increased caregiving, and shifting, often disadvantageous, gender roles. By highlighting these frequently overlooked female perspectives, the study advocates for enhanced support systems from government and non-government organizations to safeguard the mental and financial health of women left behind