Differential motivations for return according to gender: the case of Bolivian migrants in Spain during the economic crisis

This paper aims to explore the narratives on the differential motivations for return according to gender for Bolivian returnees who migrated to Spain. Migration flows from Bolivia to Spain started to rise in 2005 and were characterized by the migration of mainly women for care and domestic work while a minority of male migrants pursued occupations in the construction and agriculture sectors. Amid economic crisis, Bolivian migrants were the national group with the largest return flows from Spain to their country of origin. Based on secondary data (Population Register Flow data), and primary qualitative data obtained through 40 interviews carried out in Cochabamba (Bolivia), this paper addresses the perceptions of returnees about their return. In order to enhance understanding of narratives about return migration, this paper analyses the perceptions of the returnees in the country of origin, the degree of success in Spain and the ability to acquire some savings. We argue that, based on these three indicators, return from Bolivia can be classified in different types, such as the return due to vulnerability; the reproductive return (the return of care); the productive return; and the return to acquire human capital.