Abstract
According to the International Organization of Migration, women constituted 47.9% of the world's 272 million international migrants in 2019. These three regions North America (51.8%), Europe (51.8%) and Oceania (50.4%) accommodated a large female migrant population compared to men (UN DESA, 2019). Black African immigrant women contribute significantly to this surge of female migration. Given the increasing population of women in international migration process, the main focus of this chapter is to argue that although women from different nations have become visible in the migration literature, there are no theories or concepts to explore their experiences in the migration process. To encourage the development of gendered international migration theories, this chapter introduces a Black African immigrant womanist approach to guide future research studies to explore the unique experiences of African immigrant women at all stages of the migration process. Four case studies were used to highlight the authenticity of this new concept.
TopIntroduction And Purpose Of The Study
Immigration across the globe has always been gendered yet the recognition of women did not receive enough attention until in the late 1970s (Mahler, 1999; Yeboah, 2008). Early studies focused solely on men as agents of migration ignoring the reality that both men and women find themselves in the need to escape imminent threats to their lives due to several circumstances mostly beyond their control (Pearce, Clifford & Tandon, 2011). Wars, poverty, unemployment and religious persecutions among others, continue to dominate the explanations for forced displacement, and women just like their male counterparts are victims to these forces (Hondagneu-Sotelo,1999; International Organization of Migration (IOM), 2020; Kenny & O'Donnell, 2016; Pearce, Clifford & Tandon, 2011; Yewah & Togunde, 2010).
Several studies indicate that the factors contributing to migration continue to increase so that by the 1990s, the trend in migration had shifted in favor of female workers because of the cheap labor they provide (Kenny & O’Donnell, 2016). Data collected over the past six decades shows an increasing trend inflow of female migrant workers around the globe and it is estimated that in the future, the number of female migrants may even be equal to or surpass that of men (Kenny & O’Donnell, 2016). To provide a clear illustration of this increase, recent data compiled by the International Organization of Migration (2020), reported that women constituted 47.9 percent of the world’s 272 million international migrants in 2019. This number is significant and calls for increased visibility of women in migration theories. As shown in Figure 1, developed regions such as North America, Europe, and Oceania host the largest population of migrants (UN DESA, 2019). The graph illustrates the percentage average of women migrants compared to male migrants.
Figure 1. Total International Migrants Stock by Region and Sex, 2019
The data shown in Figure 1, indicates the extent to which women are contributing to the number of populations forced to earn a living in other countries across the globe. Although men still generally dominate in the migration process, there are some regions where female migrants surpass men due to the availability of opportunities that are most favorable to women. For example, North America (51.8%), Europe (51.4%), and Oceania (50.4%), accommodate a large female migrant population (UN DESA, 2019). These regions offer a better lifestyle that increases women’s expectancy life (ILO, 2018). Some studies also argue that, women prefer to emigrate to countries with stronger gender equality (Kenny & O’Donnell, 2016). In regions where there are more male migrants as Latin America and the Caribbean (50.1%), Asia (58.5%), and Africa (50.1%), it is a result of the high demand for male labor due to the nature of the industries. For example, the increased demand for oil in countries like Saudi Arabia attracts more male migrants because the job is too physical for women. Therefore, to increase production and profits, such companies create more opportunities for male migrants only (ILO, 2018).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Racial Ethnicity: Refers to African immigrant women’s skin color as black.
National Identity: Refers to the women’s country of origin, in this case the African continent. This identity of being African is important because the way continent is viewed determines the kind of treatment the women receives when settling in their international destinations.
Pre-Migration Experiences: This refers to the women’s experiences before they migrate, and these could contribute to their decisions to migrate. In this chapter, such experiences in the women country of origins include gender discrimination, political violence, and the relationships they forged in their communities. The chapter also includes the human capital in terms of the level of education they acquired before they migrate.
Assimilation: The different ways African immigrant women alter their cultural norms and behaviors to match that of the host culture to increase their acceptance.
Post-Migration Experiences: This refers to the women’s lived experiences in the destination country. This include the rate at which they integrate into mainstream cultures and the challenges they encounter in the process.
African Immigrant Women: Refers to black women born in Africa and are involved in the migration process. The women could be migrating alone or with their family members. It also refers to both married and unmarried women in the active age group from 18-64 years.
International Destinations: The experiences of African women when they migrate outside the African continent. This chapter reveals that once they leave their continent, they become exposed to a cultural identity which is completely different from theirs. In international destinations, African immigrant women are stereotyped because of their African identity.