The feminization of migration has increased women’s visibility in migration discourse, but more efforts are needed to ensure their protection, security, and labor market participation.
Authors
Sunetra Ghatak, Associate Professor, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, O. P. Jindal Global University, Haryana, India
Summary
Over the last few decades, the changing role of gender in migration has emerged as an important field of research and is being extensively explored under various disciplines. Literature on migration pointed out several significant changes in the migration trends and patterns, particularly an increase in the number of women migrants when they are no longer ‘associational’, and the emergence of gendered perspectives on a range of topics. Women are migrating for work, responding to the growing women-centric occupations in an independent capacity. Gender in migration is about women joining labour force after migration, popularly known as ‘feminisation of migration’. This chapter explores the various nuances of migration with reference to women, focusing on India. It begins with an overview of the growing literature on migration of women in India. The chapter highlights that while ‘feminisation of migration’ has enhanced the visibility of women in the migration discourse, much more needs to be done in terms of generating appropriate data, ensuring their protection and security and increasing their participation in the labour market.
Published in: Migration Studies: The Fundamentals
To read the full chapter, please click here.
