Thai migrant women to Europe’s experiences with family, work, religion, and return migration

A scoping review and thematic analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID24226263
AuthorsBjørn Hallstein Holte (VID Specialized University), Sanjana Arora (0000-0003-0107-7061, VID Specialized University), Kari Storstein Haug (0000-0002-8598-1818, VID Specialized University), Meltem Yilmaz Sener (VID Specialized University), Irene Hunskår (VID Specialized University), Anne Brit Hatleskog (0009-0007-4983-7097, VID Specialized University), Szonja Zoltanfi (VID Specialized University)
Year2026
Pages1-24
Publication date2026-03-17
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNew Community (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-9586 • E-ISSN: 1469-9451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1369183x.2026.2639003
OpenAlexW7137965231
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited72

Migration from Thailand to Europe has grown rapidly over the last 50 years to become a paradigmatic case of intimate mobility. This article explores Thai migrant women to Europe’s experiences with family, work, religion, and return migration. Based on a comprehensive and systematic literature search and screening of the results for relevance, the article analyses 68 studies from 12 European countries and Thailand published between 2002–2024. The studies are mostly qualitative, focused on North-Western European countries, and show an increasing tendency in the number of publications by year. Our analysis brings forward a diversity of backgrounds, migration trajectories, and experiences among Thai migrant women to Europe. Key themes across the studies include Thai migrant women’s conflicting roles at the intersection of Thai and European families, power asymmetries between Thai migrant women and European family members, the role ‘Thainess’ and ethnic businesses among Thai migrant women, aspects related to ageing, and the role of Thai Buddhist temples in Europe. The studies provide insight into factors shaping Thai women’s experiences, but less into how Thai women themselves understand, conceptualise, and articulate their experiences as migrants to Europe. The concluding discussion points towards theoretical and methodological approaches to advance the research.

ethnic business · Family life · gender and migration · migration to Europe · migration trajectories · power imbalance · Religion · return migration · Thainess · Work experience · Aging · Diaspora, migration, transnational identity · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access