‘I am Here to Peidu’: Children's Education as a Motive for Women's Return Migration

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between children's education and return migration patterns among Chinese migrant women through the practice of peidu (accompanying children during their studies). Drawing on in-depth interviews with 11 mothers aged 30–55 and participant observations in Qianshan, we examined how and why migrant women shape their return migration decisions around their children's education. Our research is contextualised within the existing literature on circular migration, structural constraints, upward social mobility, and the challenges faced by both transnational and internal peidu mothers. The findings reveal that mothers' primary motivation for returning is their aspiration to enhance their children's life opportunities through education. We observed an intergenerational shift in parenting approaches, with peidu evolving from accompanying children through senior high school to supporting younger children's education, reflecting changing childcare norms in China. The study also highlights how internal peidu mothers navigate emotional pressures while balancing full-time employment with childcare responsibilities and how their access to family support varies depending on their proximity to schools versus family networks. The post-peidu period frequently triggers thoughts of spousal reunion, which can occasionally lead to renewed outmigration, suggesting that educational accompaniment plays a significant role in shaping circular migration patterns.