Weekends

Abstract

This chapter examines respondents’ weekend reunions with their left-behind families. For a small minority, their high expectations of homecoming are matched. But for most — survivors and strivers especially — weekend reunions are more turbulent occasions. Unrealistic expectations of return and miscommunication with left-behind partners are the main sources of frustration here. What is more, this chapter shows how Euro-commuting actually entails a new negotiation of gender relations within certain commuter households. In particular, some left-behind partners grow more assertive in the domestic domain as a result of their commuting partners’ routine absences. This is most evident when Euro-commuter couples discuss their future mobility strategies.