Thai migrant women to Europe’s experiences with family, work, religion, and return migration: a scoping review and thematic analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: 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.
Institution: VID Specialized University
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7137965231