Because migration theory has traditionally emphasized the causes of international migration over questions of who migrates, it has often failed to adequately address gender-specific migration experiences. Without clear theoretical underpinnings, it becomes difficult to explain, for example, the conditions under which women migrate, or the predominance of women in certain labour flows and not in others. Furthermore, traditional theory fails to help us understand the circumstances that encourage women to become transnational migrants, to enter into trafficking channels, or to seek asylum. Answering these questions and other more gender-sensitive inquiries requires showing how a seemingly gender-neutral process of movement is, in fact, highly gender-specific and may result in differential outcomes for men and women.

Research on gender and migration within the Centre takes a broad approach towards the gender dynamics of both international and internal migration and the interconnections between the two. It explores the reasons why women migrate and the role that gender plays in the decision making process. It also explores the implications of gender for the ability of women to access international protection, to be employed within differential labour markets and to secure family reunion and other rights.

Much of our research also explores the gendered implications of migration policies. On the whole it can be said that although policies governing the different categories of migrant workers are expressed in gender-neutral terms, in reality they affect men and women differently for three principle reasons: firstly, the concentration of men and women in different migratory flows based on gender segregated labour markets; secondly gendered socio-economic power structures; and finally socio-cultural definitions of appropriate roles in the origin as well as destination countries.

 

Projects

Gender and family migration

Gender and labour migration: an Asian perspective

Gender-related persecution

New perspectives on gender and migration

Women migrants' advocacy in Latin America

 

Publications

Crawley, H (2001) Refugees and Gender: Law and Process, Bristol: Jordan Publishing

Crawley, H and Lester, T (2004) 'Comparative Analysis of Gender-Related Persecution in National Asylum Legislation and Practice in Europe', UNHCR Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit Evaluation Report EPAU/2004/05, Geneva: UNHCR

Halfacree, K (2004) ‘Untying migration completely: de-gendering or radical transformation?’, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 30(2), 397-413

Boyle, P and Halfacree, K (eds) Migration and Gender in the Developed World, London: Routledge

Piper, N. and French, A. (eds.) (2011) Female Migration Outcomes: Human Rights Perspectives. Diversities Vol. 13, No. 1.

Piper, N (2007) Enhancing the Migration Experience: Gendering Political Advocacy and Migrant Labour in Southeast and East Asia, IDRC Working Paper No. 2

Piper, N (ed) (2007) New Perspectives on Gender and Migration – Rights, Entitlements and Livelihoods, London: Routledge

Piper, N (2006) ‘Gendering the politics of migration’, International Migration Review 40(1), 133-64

Piper, N (2005) ‘Gender and Migration’, Commissioned Background Paper for the Global Commission on International Migration 

Piper, N and Roces, M (eds) (2003) Wife or Worker? Asian Women and Migration, Boulder/Colorado: Rowan & Littlefield