Migrant Workers’ Narratives of Return: Alienation and Identity Transformations

Book Title	Migrant Workers’ Narratives of Return: Alienation and Identity Transformations
Author	Hans J LADEGAARD (Department of English and Communication)
Publisher	Routledge
Year of Publication	2023
ISBN	9781032202587

Introduction Drawing on a corpus of 113 narratives told by migrant workers who have returned to their home country, Ladegaard details Indonesian and Filipina (domestic) migrant workers’ experiences of homecoming after years of work abroad, separated from their loved ones. The narratives deal with two major themes: 1) Migrant workers’ experiences in the diaspora, which for many, particularly Indonesian workers, were associated with abuse and exploitation leading to trauma; and 2) migrant workers’ experiences of coming home, which include both the happy reunion with the family but also concerns about not ‘fitting in’ and the need to reinvent themselves because they are not who they were when they left. This is particularly true for workers whose migratory journeys have failed and who have come back to their hometowns without any financial award. Chapters also explore the major difference between Filipina and Indonesian migrant workers’ overseas experiences. The Filipina returnees share mostly positive stories while the Indonesian returnees uncover mostly negative stories, further illuminating what may explain these diverse migratory experiences. Finally, the book discusses how research on disenfranchised groups like (domestic) migrant workers can be used for social and political action. Content 1. Setting the scene 2. How and Why: A Dash of Theory and Methodology 3. Struggling to Reconnect: Identity Transformations 4. Haunted by Ghosts: Remembering Trauma 5. Spurning Exploitation: The Empowered Migrant Worker 6. Sinking and Drowning, or Surviving and Thriving 7. Reflexivity and Social Activism in Migrant Worker Research 8. Summary and Concluding Remarks * Owners of respective book covers are credited. Book covers are for reference only. FH is unable to accept responsibility of any inaccurate information.