Examining aged-care arrangements in Zimbabwean transnational families: the role of family solidarity, duty and responsibility

Transnational caregiving within African families, particularly in the context of aged care, is an underexplored area, especially regarding the impact of migration. This article examines caregiving arrangements in Zimbabwean transnational families, focusing on how migration reshapes traditional caregiving practices. By utilising the concepts of family solidarity and normative obligation, the article explores how gendered expectations of duty influence the negotiation of caregiving roles across borders. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Zimbabwean migrant care workers in the UK and their families in Zimbabwe, the article highlights the intersection of migration, caregiving, gender dynamics and power relations, offering insights into how caregiving norms are reconfigured. The findings reveal the complexities and adaptability of caregiving within Zimbabwean transnational families, shedding light on the transformative impact of migration on family roles and the resilience of African caregiving practices in transnational contexts.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Families Relationships and Societies
Published
2026-01-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1332/20467435y2025d000000079
Primary Topic
Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Examining aged-care arrangements in Zimbabwean transnational families: the role of family solidarity, duty and responsibility

Obert; id_orcid 0000-0002-0386-0335 Tawodzera
Families Relationships and Societies
Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
article

Examining aged-care arrangements in Zimbabwean transnational families: the role of family solidarity, duty and responsibility

Obert; id_orcid 0000-0002-0386-0335 Tawodzera
article en

Abstract

Transnational caregiving within African families, particularly in the context of aged care, is an underexplored area, especially regarding the impact of migration. This article examines caregiving arrangements in Zimbabwean transnational families, focusing on how migration reshapes traditional caregiving practices. By utilising the concepts of family solidarity and normative obligation, the article explores how gendered expectations of duty influence the negotiation of caregiving roles across borders. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Zimbabwean migrant care workers in the UK and their families in Zimbabwe, the article highlights the intersection of migration, caregiving, gender dynamics and power relations, offering insights into how caregiving norms are reconfigured. The findings reveal the complexities and adaptability of caregiving within Zimbabwean transnational families, shedding light on the transformative impact of migration on family roles and the resilience of African caregiving practices in transnational contexts.

Families Relationships and Societies
University of Birmingham (GB)
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 76%
Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.