Gulf householding: implications of gulf migration for social reproduction

Abstract

This paper introduces the idea of ‘Gulf householding’ to reflect on migrant households that send their members to the Arab Gulf states for work and rely on material and non-material supports for formation and sustenance of households. Millions of households in the global South receive remittances from the Arab Gulf states, amounting to more than US$135 billion annually, and this vast amount of household income is a manifestation of Gulf householding. The paper examines the implications of Gulf householding for social reproduction by centreing on key spheres of household activities. Empirically, this study draws on interviews with Gulf migrant households at a village in Bihar, India. This research reports that access to the Gulf labour market and remittances shapes the quality of life of Gulf households. This study suggests that research on Gulf householding across multiple countries and regions has the potential to underscore the complex development processes from below.