Implications of Male Migration on Female Status in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Seraphin Ngondo, University of Kinshasa
Yanyi K. Djamba, Southeastern Louisiana University

Democratic Republic of Congo has registered negative economic growth that contrasts with a population growth of three percent per year in the last decades. During this difficult period, the populations have developed many survival strategies including male outmigration. This paper examines the impact of male migration on female status, using data from a 1998 survey of married women. The results show that many male migrants now stay longer at place of destination. This separation increases female status as wives take more leadership role; they manage money sent home by their husbands and make all family decisions. However, wives often report conflicts with their in-laws, are overwhelmed by family responsibilities, have difficulties raising children, and they live in continuous fear that their husbands may acquire HIV/AIDS from other women or even marry at place of destination. We discuss these issues under the role conflict theory.