Roles in Public Space of Wives Who Left Behind International Migrant Husbands

This article explores the roles, in the public space, of women who are left behind by international migration. The qualitative research was employed. Data collection process conducted in Sakon Nakhon Province with the 26 wives whose husbands migrated at least a year to work in other countries. The results showed that wives who left behind by international migration played major roles in village development activities and community merit making, after receiving their overseas remittance. These activities led them to become loan lenders and labour brokers. Their new positions provided more opportunities to be a politician at the local level.