The Gendered Impact of Women’s Care Mobility to Germany: Consequences for Mobile Care Workers and ‘Staying Spouses’ in Serbia

The article examines how Blagojević-Hughson’s concepts of “self-sacrificing micro-matriarchy” and the “crisis of masculinity” – as key characteristics of the Serbian gender regime – manifest in the context of women’s irregular care mobility to Germany. The traditional role of mobile care workers as primary caregivers continues despite their temporary absence, sustained by a strong attachment to the pattern of “self-sacrificing micro-matriarchy”. Simultaneously, their position as the main breadwinner challenges male provider norms, reshaping gender relations and power dynamics within partnerships. The weakened position of ‘staying spouses’ in the family and exposed lack of responsibility are adding to their “crisis of masculinity”.