Gendered Temporalities and Transnational Care in Indonesian and Tanzanian Student Migration and Return

Abstract

This article examines the often-overlooked roles of gender, caregiving, and family in shaping the experiences of international student migration, focusing on Indonesian and Tanzanian postgraduate students in the UK. Against the backdrop of increasingly restrictive immigration and scholarship policies limiting the presence of dependents, the study draws on narrative interviews with 40 returnees to explore how significant others influence educational decisions and trajectories. Employing a life course perspective and the concept of “linked lives”, the analysis highlights how age, gender, family status, and structural conditions intersect across temporal and spatial scales. An intersectional lens is used to interrogate how caregiving responsibilities—particularly among women—challenge dominant portrayals of international students as independent and privileged actors. Focusing on four women's stories, the article traces the emotional and practical complexities of “split migration”, revealing how academic ambitions are negotiated alongside care obligations. Their narratives illuminate both the constraints and transformative possibilities associated with transnational mobility, especially in renegotiating gender roles and family dynamics. This study underscores the importance of recognising students’ relational embeddedness and structural vulnerabilities. By centring women's lived experiences, the article contributes to debates on the gendered dimensions of global mobility and calls for a more socially sustainable approach to international higher education.