RETURN MIGRATION IN OLDER ADULTS FROM THE MIXTECA OAXAQUENA AND ITS PROCESSES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL ADAPTATION

The migration from Mexico to the United States of people who come from indigenous original communities as well as their return to the place of origin has been scarcely studied, especially from the perspective of the experiences shared by older adults. That is why, this article aims to describe the experience of migration to the United States and return to Mexico, as well as the psychological and cultural adaptation processes of older adults who are originally from the Oaxacan Mixteca. The study was qualitative with a descriptive level. Seven older adults, six men and one woman, with an age range between 71 and 75 years old, who are returned migrants from the municipality of San Miguel Tlacotepec, Oaxaca, in Mexico, were intentionally invited to participate. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the support of an interview guide with 52 questions. Participants migrated at different stages of the life cycle. The migratory experience was more satisfactory for the women than for the participating men. They migrated speaking Mixtec and not knowing how to speak Spanish and English. They returned with a greater ability of speaking Spanish and without speaking English. They reported experiences of discrimination in the United States by other Mexican, given their difficulties in communicating in Spanish. On their return, they returned to work in the fields and only one of them to work making handicrafts. They did not participate in hometown organizations or migrant clubs. And they do not know about Programa Bracero. The emotions of sadness and anger were the most frequent while they lived in USA. The financial sacrifices to send as much money as possible to the family were frequently reported. It is necessary to continue giving spaces for analysis and conversation to social groups whose participation in the migration process has not been visible, about which it is necessary to deepen knowledge, such as older adults, who come from indigenous and rural contexts. The gender implications of migration are particularly relevant to broaden future analysis