Gender and International Labor Migration: A Networks Approach

摘要: Females have outnumbered males in legal immigration to the United States since 1930s (Houston, Kramer, and Barrett, 1984), yet until recently issues of gender received relatively scant attention cumulative body research on migration. Migration researchers largely overlooked female component migrant streams under assumption that women migrate as dependents male breadwinners are thus only passive participants process (Pessar, 1986; Simon Corona DeLey, 1986). The androcentric assumptions characterize international labor migration scholarship (unwittingly) convey message when it comes "women [do] little worth writing about" (Pedraza, 1991: 304).(1) Though may once been exclusive domain men, iris no longer. Even Latin America, where long dominated by males, there is a clear trend toward greater participation flows (Fernandez-Kelly Garcia, 1988; Donato, 1994). Perhaps best indicator women's increasing role migrants their own right willingness assume risks associated with undocumented Despite long-held oft-repeated contentions "are composed overwhelmingly adult men" (Portes Bach, 1985: 69, see also Massey et al., 1987: 124), 43% amnesty applications Immigration Reform Control Act 1986 were made females (Immigration Naturalization Service, 1990: xxiv).(2) Recent world-system analyses indicate, furthermore, secondary sector employers U.S. increasingly target immigrant rather than men source low-wage (Sassen, Fernandez-Kelly, Given these findings, we must begin consider broader implications which ones "left behind." In this article I briefly examine contributions bringing light significant economic play economy. However, argue such macro-economic failed east much actors process. question adequacy approaches focus household appropriate unit analysis research. "household strategies" seem hold promise for human agency back into process, point out abstract theoretical models purport explain behavior often obscure instead an analytical approach focuses gendered transnational network-building can help us move more socially culturally grounded conception modern respond forces shape constrain daily lives. Although social networks has history research, generated many studies document played generating sustaining flows, given building maintenance ties link sending receiving communities. A large cross-cultural illustrates "women-centered" serve conduits exchange material goods, services, employment information developing societies. that, expanded transnationally, similar migration, linking who remain communities remittances seek opportunities childcare, and, some cases, paving way potential return origin. World-System Approaches historical-structural developed provides powerful conceptual framework global processes give rise structure …