Paper short abstract:

We intend to analyze the impact of migration on the reconfiguration of gender relations in Cape Verde, focusing on the experiences of rural families. The centrality of women in decision making, in the absence of their husbands, endows them with an important manageability and empowerment

Paper long abstract:

This paper intend to explore how the live experienced by capeverdean women in the management of the household, when their husbands are migrated, and if it can, on the one hand, making them central to the process of decision-making, particularly in management of economic and financial resources, and the other hand, as this may become an important factor of tension in relations of co-presence.

Many studies have been produced addressing the impacts of migration on the family's structures in Cape Verde and in the diaspora, like Lobo (2012), Dias (2000), Akesson (2004).

Indeed, a study I conducted in rural areas (Furtado, 1993) showed signs in rebuilding family, particularly in the management of the household by women, whose husbands were migrated. In fact, women played an increasing importance in the management of economic and financial resources. Indeed, remittances sent by their husbands, were managed by women, who decided not only the destination of these resources but also took responsibility for the management of economic enterprises, whether in agriculture, in commerce or in construction.

However, the return of their husbands calls into question the division of responsibilities. In some cases, I noticed conflicts, because women refused to play a mere adjuncts role of their husbands, while they sought to take its traditional and role. In any case, whatever the level of conflict, and what we see is what we seek to understand the process by which adjustments are possible, reconfiguring gender relations, giving women a greater role in managing the family