Navigating Citizenship and Single-Motherhood: An Exploration of Immigrant Single Mothers' Survival Strategies in Taiwan

Taiwan, as a desired destination for migration in Asia, has attracted numerous female marriage migrants from China and Southeast Asia since the 1990s. Over the past decade, however, the cases of divorce have mushroomed and resulted in a considerable number of transnational single-parent families. This paper aims to investigate the strategies employed by immigrant single mothers to navigate life in Taiwan and maintain their mother-child relationships amidst various challenges, with a specific focus on their citizenship status. I contend that due to legislative amendments and the bourgeoning economies in China and Southeast Asia, the significance of Taiwanese citizenship has gradually diminished for recent marriage migrants. Drawing on interviews with 36 immigrant single mothers, this paper delves into how these mothers decide to embrace or reject Taiwanese citizenship as a means of negotiating the limited resources available to them. Special attention is given to their attitudes toward the acquisition of Taiwanese citizenship, particularly as obtaining citizenship is no longer the sole route for foreign spouses to maintain residency in Taiwan. The data reveals that some opt not to naturalize to retain their eligibility for property inheritance and identity flexibility to do business in their home countries. These preliminary findings challenge our traditional understanding of citizenship in terms of its role in strengthening parent-child bonds and enhancing the economic empowerment of transnational families. By analyzing their stories, this paper expects to provide an alternative understanding of the meaning of citizenship to marriage migrants in various living conditions.