Belonging, Identity, and Reintegration in India: Two Generations of US Women Return Migrants

This dissertation examines how generational differences among Indian returnee women shape their experiences of reintegration into Indian society, highlighting how migration and return are embedded in broader socio-historical, cultural, and gendered contexts. Focusing on two cohorts- women who migrated before India’s 1991 economic liberalization and those who migrated after- the study draws on qualitative interviews to explore how returnees navigate the tensions between values acquired abroad and the social expectations they face upon returning. The older cohort of returnee women, many of which were influenced by Gandhi’s ideals, often view their reintegration as a process of reconnecting with familiar values, emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to communal responsibility within the context of India’s traditional social frameworks. In contrast, younger returnees, socialized in a globalized, consumer-driven India, engage in what this study conceptualizes as boundary work: a deliberate negotiation of familial roles, gender norms, and professional expectations. These women selectively integrate egalitarian and individualistic ideals into their everyday lives, often challenging patriarchal norms and constructing hybrid identities. Through this intergenerational lens, this dissertation contributes to scholarship on return migration by highlighting how gender and generation intersect to shape reintegration. By acknowledging the impact of generational and gendered experiences on return migration, this dissertation calls for a more nuanced understanding of the reintegration process, urging policymakers, researchers, and social organizations to create environments that support returnees in navigating and integrating their multiple, intersecting identities.