3.1.3. Contributions of Migrant Women

3.1.3.
Contributions of migrant women
Immigrant women contributed to the society in many ways. According to “United
Nations Population Division reckons that almost between 48% to 49% of all international
migrants were women. In the developed regions, the proportion of women among foreign
migrants reached 51%”.
The structure of the labor market in the new world order has resulted in two different
patterns. Women are increasingly moving into the 'household' economy, such as hospitality and
care work, and into previously male-dominated sectors, such as agriculture. In developed
countries, the demand for such jobs is steadily increasing, but women's contribution is not
particularly valued (Majumdar, 2017).
By helping to fill gaps in the labor force, women have increased the working age population and
contributed to technical and human capital. They have also used their non-technical skills to
offset declining tax revenues due to an ageing population and to help older people affected by
cuts in health spending. For Example, In the Philippines, the third largest remittance-receiving
country in the world, the female migrant workers are the breadwinners for their families.
In Indonesia and the Philippines, for example, migrant women are widely presented as
economic heroines who contribute to the national economy and supplement the budgets of poor
families. The prospect of being lifted out of poverty within a few years motivates many women
to work as domestic workers, for example in the Gulf countries.
Though women tend to migrate to Europe and North America. But with the changing world
order and the growth of new economies, this trend could change. Experts say that migration
flows from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere will change as migrants move to
fast-growing economies in Asia, such as China and India.
Patriarchy being a universal system, although it takes different forms in different contexts
of every country. Although migrant women's experiences are very different, much of the policy
debate on gender equality and migration is caught up in generalizations, stereotypes, and
misunderstandings about the very different ways in which gender relations are organized in
different societies (Bastia. 2019, & Piper's.). Migrant women respond to opportunities in local,
national, regional, and global labor markets that are shaped by gender norms and inequalities.
Several other factors limit the potential benefits of women's migration. Limited access to
information and support networks prevents women from accessing decent work and successfully
exercising their labor rights. The high cost of formal remittance services and the insecurity
associated with informal remittances can significantly reduce income and increase financial risk.
In addition, women workers may not have control over how their money is spent or how much
they send once it is remitted. Both factors reduce the benefits that women's households and
families derive from their earnings (Orozco 2007, Hennebry, 2008).
Upon return, women may be exposed to prejudice and lack of integration services and
employment opportunities, which can have a negative impact on them and their dependents.
Restrictive laws and practices affecting women's access to and control over property may limit
their ability to invest or acquire property in their home country. Limited access to financial
services and products in home and destination countries, lack of financial education, and
inadequate support for capacity building, investment and income diversification may also
prevent women from turning their income into tangible and realizable gains. These factors, often
intertwined with gender norms and stereotypes, prevent migrant women from fully realizing the
benefits of migration and limit their contribution to the family and the economy.
In the context of global supply chains, social remittances are more complex, especially in
terms of gender norms, and in Social Remittances we develop the idea that the contribution of
women migrant workers can go beyond the act of remittance. There has been little research or
reporting on social remittances, which are transfers of practices, norms, identities, and social
capital. Moreover, social remittances are not as predictable and difficult to measure as economic
ones. For example, if a new source of income improves a woman's status within her family or
community, she may have more influence not only over how she spends her money, but also
over other important decisions that she was previously excluded from. The social and political
benefits of women's labor migration depend to a large extent on women's experiences and on
women themselves. The structural barriers to the empowerment of women migrant workers are
the same gender and cultural norms or misguided policies that prevent women from realizing the
social and political benefits of migration.

Bibliography
Majumdar, R. (2017). Putting the Spotlight on Women Migrant Workers - Our World. Inter Press
Service. https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/putting-the-spotlight-on-women-migrant-workers
Levitt, P. (2001). The Transnational Villagers. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of
California Press.
Temin, M. et al.: Adolescent Girls and Migration in the Developing World Policy Brief,
Population Council (New York, 2013), p. 8. Available at:
http://www.popcouncil.org/research/girls-on-the-moveadolescent-girls-migration-in-the-
developing-world [accessed 01 May 2021]
Ruth Pearson & Caroline Sweetman (2019) Introduction: gender, development, and migrants in a
global economy, Gender & Development, 27:1, 1-13, DOI:
10.1080/13552074.2019.1588587

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3.1.3.

Contributions of migrant women

Immigrant women contributed to the society in many ways. According to “United

migrants reached 51%”.

particularly valued (Majumdar, 2017).

to work as domestic workers, for example in the Gulf countries.

fast-growing economies in Asia, such as China and India.

debate on gender equality and migration is caught up in generalizations, stereotypes, and

families derive from their earnings (Orozco 2007, Hennebry, 2008).

social and political benefits of migration.

Population Council (New York, 2013), p. 8. Available at:

developing-world [accessed 01 May 2021]

global economy, Gender & Development, 27:1, 1-13, DOI:

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