Syeda Rozana Rashid

Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka and Senior Research Fellow, RMMRU,

Bangladesh

Bangladesh - the 10th largest recipient of remittancesamongst 70 developing countries.

The contribution of international remittances to GDP is 11-12%

The World Bank estimates that remittance inflows havehelped Bangladesh cut poverty by 6%.

In Bangladesh 30% of the total population currently aged 10-24 years.

Recent studies exploring remittances impact on children,adolescents and youths (Wickramasekara 2013, Asis andRuizmarve 2013, Meyerhoefer and Chen 2011, MacKenzieand Rapoport, 2011, Mansour et al 2011) and gaps

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about how remittances, as a form of exchange, affect the trajectories of young people in migrant communities in terms of their education, occupation and labour migration.

about the impact of interlocking dimensions of class, gender and generational norms guiding men and women's lives in Bangladesh on their capacity to aspire.

Based on RPC-RMMRU Intra-Household Study, 2015

Qualitative approach involving both primary and secondary methods of data collection

Collected during April-July 2015 Sampling from an area where a

large scale quantitative survey was conducted in 2014 (RPC global survey)

In-depth interviews of youths and adults in 24 Migrant, Returnee and Non-Migrant Households

Follow-up visits in a sub-sample of 10 households and group or individual interviews

Other methods: Basic household survey, interview with locally important persons, focus group discussion with youths, informal talks and observation

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The ‘capacity to aspire’ involves the ability to read ‘a map of a journey into the future’.(Appadurai 2004: 62)

Remittances are special forms of wealth which create ‘Cultural Topography of Wealth’ (Ferguson 1992)

Intra-household dynamics of gender relations (Kabeer 1998) and capability approach (Sen, 2009 ) .

Survival first: Escaping dependence and

Protection against the risk of poverty

Investing in tangible wealth First generation migrants to facilitate consumption and

building property

Developing Human resources Second generation migrants to spend on education

Household spent 10-25% of their earning on education.

Intra-household decision making By the head of the household

The desire for education increases when one or more household members migrate.

More aspiration to obtain basic education than higher education .

Less willingness to pursue TVET due to its low social value and employability.

Influenced by the social and economic values attached to different levels of education, and the facilities and information available to them

Highly circumscribed by gender norms of marriage, education and household responsibility for boys and girls

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“I want to be established in life. I shall think about taking 'a line' (a job) after I complete my HSC. My maternal uncle said that there is no need to go abroad, I can stay here and do a good job."

"I don't need to think about my future. I will do what my parents consider best for me.“

Deep inclination towards govt. job due to their social value and less so for agriculture and business.

Migration serves as a stop gap strategy. A salaried job is intended to be reserved for men. Remittances create unequal opportunities for

occupational choice.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“My future plan is not so big. I just want a Chakri” (salaried job)” “I don't know exactly what is a government job, what will I have to

do, but I understand that it is permanent, I shall get pension . "

“I like to join in Bangladesh Army or Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). There are lot of facilities…”

“ No body will lend you money for business although loans are readily available in the villages for migration”

“We all have to work during harvesting season. It is too hot to work in the field. My studies are hampered…”

Migration aspirations are influenced by availability of other choices, hierarchical images of destinations, level of education and migration of family members as well as social value of migration.

Female youths capacity to migration was constrained by gender discourses about age, marriageability, honour and vulnerability.

Remittances interface with female youths’ marriage aspirations

………………………………………………………………

“I shall go abroad, if I fail to get a job in the country.” "If I go abroad, I shall go to Singapore or Dubai. I don't want

to go to Saudi Arabia or countries like this which employ lots of menial workers and offer poor salaries.“

"I admire my Mum. She has done a lot for the family but I don't want to follow her path. You know, people don't speak positively about women migrants."

"I wish I could go abroad like my Mum. I asked my husband (a migrant). He said, "Take the divorce letter from me, before you migrate."

Remittances increase youths’ capacity to aspire in multiple pathways as these are invested in education, migration and getting a job.

however,

Public discourses and information on education, job and migration influence youth’s capacity to aspiration.

Capacity to aspire are highly circumscribed by gender norms.

Targeting youths for the sustainable use of remittances.

Appropriate skilling of youths to enhance their ‘capacity to aspire’

Mainstreaming female youths in education, migration and development.

Thank you

The full version of the paper is available at MooP working papers website:

http://migratingoutofpoverty.dfid.gov.uk/files/file.php?name=wp40-rashid-and-sikder-2016-choosing-a-life-remittances-and-youth-aspirations.pdf&site=354