THE IMPACT OF MALE MIGRATION ON DOMESTIC BUDGETING - EGYPTIAN WOMEN STRIVING FOR AN ISLAMIC BUDGETING PATTERN

Apart from studies of the economic impact of large-scale male migratio n from Egypt to the Arab oil-producing countries, little scholary atte ntion has been paid to this social phenomenon and the creation of a si gnificant number of de facto female headed households. This article fo cuses on the influence of male migration on domestic budgeting and the position of wives within low-income Cairence households. The data, dr awn from a sample of 42 households which includes income-earning women and non-wage earning women, indicate that less educated women and tho se who were primarily homemakers frequently managed to renegotiate a m ore favourable financial arrangement with their husbands during and af ter migration, and raise their status and decision-making power within the household. On the other hand, contrary to commonsense assumptions , educated and income-earning women were more likely to lose access to their husbands' income and to major decision-making opportunities, re sulting in lowered status within the household. To protect their inter ests, many women in these groups appealed to the traditional and Islam ic division of domestic responsibilities which hold men financially re sponsible for the family's upkeep.