Left-behind women: perspectives on seasonal labor migration in Guagusa Shekudad community, North West Ethiopia

In 2021, about 281 million people worldwide reside outside of their country of birth. By taking the Guagusa Shekudad district in Ethiopia as an example, the current study aims at to assess perspectives of the community on men's seasonal labor migration and women who were left-behind in the process of seasonal labor migration. Moreover, the study aims to identify constraints that hinder women's participation in seasonal labor migration. For this study, a qualitative research approach, ethnographic research design, and thematic data analysis technique were employed. Different data collection techniques such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), participant observation, and informal conversation were used to collect first-hand ethnographic data. Accordingly, the findings of the study reveal that the local community has positive perspectives toward seasonal labor migration, migrants, and women left-behind in the process of their husband's migration. Furthermore, men seasonal labor migrants have positive perspectives toward their left-behind wives. Likewise, left-behind women conceived their husband's migration positively. In general, men's seasonal labor migration is an integral part of life in the community. As a result the majority of the population has positive perceptions towards seasonal labor migration and women left-behind in the process of seasonal labor migration.