|
Project 3e
Gender Differences in Migration
Opportunities: Implications for Educational Choices and Outcomes
Summary
The choices made about migration are both gendered and
contextual. Who goes and who stays, the use of remittances and the
length of migration period, for example, are influenced by gender
and place. In much of South Asia today the success of rural education
is seen in terms of the export of youth for ‘better employment’
in urban areas. Implicit in the notion of schooling is the enhancement
of human capital as a mobile asset that provides a gateway to a
‘better quality of life’.
An important consequence of globalisation
has been the enhancement, in many instances, of social, educational
and economic inequalities. While those with a minimum asset base,
both in terms of material and human capabilities, have been able
to take advantage of the new context to improve their situation,
those lacking such assets have been driven to forms of distress
migration, moving here and there, often in family groups, for their
very survival (Mosse et al. 2002). The main objective of this research
is to explore how far migration opportunities provide an incentive
to complete secondary schooling and gender differences associated
with this. In order to do so, the study maps out different kinds
of migration flows, such as distress migration, migration to factories
or farms producing for global markets, through contracting marriages
with higher status groups etc. Some of these migration flows have
existed for generations, but the challenge is to understand whether
globalisation, or indeed the liberalisation of the economy, as in
the case of India, has created new opportunities or pressures, which
act as incentives for completing secondary education.
Key Research Questions
![Dot](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
• What are the migration opportunities
available to boys and girls comparing the different experiences
of globalisation in India and Bangladesh? Where are these opportunities
located – close to the locality, distant urban centre,
or abroad? |
![Dot](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
In what ways do State structures and processes
help or hinder female and male internal and international migration? |
![Dot](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
To what extent do these migration choices
reflect ‘distress’ and to what extent do they constitute
a positive choice of preferred occupation? |
![Dot](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
Have perceptions about migration and what
it consists of changed over time? |
![Dot](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
What are the current aspirations of men
and women in relation to migration opportunities? |
![Dot](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
How far do these provide an incentive or
a disincentive to higher education outcomes for boys and girls? |
![Dot](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
How far are migrant remittances actually
invested in improving educational outcomes?
How far does the presence of a migrant (differentiated according
to geographical location and duration of migration) contribute
to altering social and gender relations, in terms of status
and power, in a rural context? |
|
|
|
Key Theme(s)
Gender and Generations
Health and Education
Type(s) of Migration
Global
Labour Mobility
Internal
Migration
|
|
Convenor
Ann
Whitehead
Investigators
Nitya Rao (UEA)
Janet
Seeley (UEA)
Key Activities
1. |
A pilot study will be undertaken in
the first instance to conduct a review of the literature
and sharpen the research questions, to identify a suitable
village-level sample frame, and to test data collection
methods. A report on the pilot will be presented at
a workshop bringing together UK-based experts in the
area, and the main phase of the study will commence
subsequent to that. |
Key Outputs
![](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
Research paper |
![](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
Two DRC Working Papers |
![](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
An article in an academic
journal |
![](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
Dissemination activities
at the local level |
![](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
Policy briefing |
![](../../images/general/bullit_6x6_beige.gif) |
Presentation of work
at international fora |
|
|