Gender and International Migration: Globalization, Development, and Governance
Based on:
Journal Article (2012)
This paper examines the connections between gender and international migration around three themes: globalization, national economic development, and governance.
Brief by:
Research collaborators:
Our paper on international migration is an overview of the most significant problems involving the asymmetries between capital and labour in the process of internationalization previous to 2012. While capital had its obstacles removed between countries practically without limits, labour continued to face many obstacles to move, particularly into high income countries.
Key findings
The paper makes clear that the impacts on men and women are multiple and depend on many variables, including the fact that educated women are relatively more likely to migrate than educated men.
Both face precarious conditions in the country of migration where they can contribute to the informalization of labour markets.
As for international remittances, between 2000 and 2008, the total volume increased from US$81.
3 billion to US$324.8 billion, far exceeding the level of total direct assistance. For some countries, they were equivalent to their export earnings from commodity production. However, for remittances to help development, a high level must be maintained, and this depends on factors that are tied to the proportion of migrant women since they remit a higher level of their incomes.
On the other hand, male workers fit better the desired labour categories in the immigrant countries.
In any case, the immigration policies of wealthy destination countries suggests that they cannot be reduced to a simple dichotomy between permitting certain kinds of labor and keeping out others. Country immigration policies are the result of conflicting pressures that have a short or long term impact and create policy tensions and confusion among immigrants.
Proposed action
Country immigration policies must be seen as regulating migration in response to the ambivalence by citizens of labor receiving countries to the presence of foreign workers competing for local jobs, fears of unemployment, outburst of xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment and concerns about the post-September 11th world
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to iDE Global
These insights were made available thanks to the support of iDE Global, who are committed to the dissemination of knowledge for all.
Special thanks to Jasmyn Spanswick for preparation assistance
We would like to extend a special thank you to Jasmyn Spanswick, for their invaluable contribution in assisting the preparation of this research summary.
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Gender and International Migration: Globalization, Development, and Governance
Cite this brief: Beneria, Lourdes. 'Gender and International Migration: Globalization, Development, and Governance'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/gender-and-international-migration-globalization-development-and-governance/
Brief created by: Lourdes Beneria | Year brief made: 2022
Original research:
- C. D. D., Beneria, L., & N. K., ‘Gender and International Migration: Globalization, Development, and Governance’ 18(2) (pp. 1–33) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254285201_Gender_and_International_Migration_Globalization_Development_and_Governance. – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254285201_Gender_and_International_Migration_Globalization_Development_and_Governance
Research brief:
This paper examines the connections between gender and international migration around three themes: globalization, national economic development, and governance.
Our paper on international migration is an overview of the most significant problems involving the asymmetries between capital and labour in the process of internationalization previous to 2012. While capital had its obstacles removed between countries practically without limits, labour continued to face many obstacles to move, particularly into high income countries.
Findings:
The paper makes clear that the impacts on men and women are multiple and depend on many variables, including the fact that educated women are relatively more likely to migrate than educated men.
Both face precarious conditions in the country of migration where they can contribute to the informalization of labour markets.
As for international remittances, between 2000 and 2008, the total volume increased from US$81.
3 billion to US$324.8 billion, far exceeding the level of total direct assistance. For some countries, they were equivalent to their export earnings from commodity production. However, for remittances to help development, a high level must be maintained, and this depends on factors that are tied to the proportion of migrant women since they remit a higher level of their incomes.
On the other hand, male workers fit better the desired labour categories in the immigrant countries.
In any case, the immigration policies of wealthy destination countries suggests that they cannot be reduced to a simple dichotomy between permitting certain kinds of labor and keeping out others. Country immigration policies are the result of conflicting pressures that have a short or long term impact and create policy tensions and confusion among immigrants.
Advice:
Country immigration policies must be seen as regulating migration in response to the ambivalence by citizens of labor receiving countries to the presence of foreign workers competing for local jobs, fears of unemployment, outburst of xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment and concerns about the post-September 11th world