Research On The The Dilemma Of Rural-urban Migrant Women’s Motherhood Practices

With China’s economic and social transformation period,the number of rural-urban migrant population has increased rapidly.The flow of migrant people has gradually changed from single person flow to conjugal migration or family migration.In this context,increasing rural-urban migrant women choose to leave their hometown to go to the city to make a job.Mothers are regarded as the best caregivers of children for a long time,which is influenced by the traditional gender division of labor.The experience of migration brings the unique life process imprint to the rural-urban migrant women.While adapting to urban life,they are also faced with the challenges of multiple identities and roles as mothers,wives and migrant workers.Based on this,through the qualitative research methods such as observation and semi-structured interviews,this study analyzes the characteristics and dilemmas of the rural-urban migrant women in the practice of motherhood,as well as their active experiences in adjusting and adapting to the practice,combined with gender theory and life course theory.The study finds that: firstly,under the multiple social structures,rural-urban migrant women are not only be responsible for the care and support within the family,but also go to the city to make a job.The characteristics of their motherhood have changed from a relatively simple daily life of caring for their children to a state of balance between living care and economic support.As internal caregivers,they not only maintain the integrity of their families,but also bear the responsibility of children’s education.As supporters of their families,they take on the economic responsibility of earning money;secondly,the "mobility" of rural-urban migrant women deeply embedded in the dual structure of urban and rural areas also makes their motherhood practice face multiple tensions.Influenced by traditional gender consciousness,they are faced with double labor dilemma,which brings their own time poverty.Under the background of the widening gap between urban and rural education,the problems of children’s education have also brought great troubles to them.In balancing work and family,they also had to deal with conflicts arising from their relationship with their children and the conflicts caused by intergenerational care;thirdly,rural-urban migrant women have made all kinds of efforts for the interests of their children and families,actively shaped the concept of motherhood between working to earn money and accompanying their children,constantly debugged their own motherhood experience,and used their limited resources to carry out active motherhood practices,so as to bridge the tension in motherhood practices.Many factors limit the ability of rural-urban migrant women to practice their role of motherhood.Their ultimate motherhood practice is not ideal,but gradually generated in the process of exploration and exploration.Due to the lack of their own economic ability and social support,their motherhood practices presents different prospects.Accordingly,this article makes the following suggestions: The government should improve relevant policy support to protect the interests of rural-urban migrant women and their children.The society should change the gender stereotype and eliminate the traditional gender division of labor.Families should coordinate the care of their grandparents and strengthen the social support network for rural-urban migrant women.