Gendered dynamics of transnational social protection

Abstract

Social protection refers to resources and strategies to deal with social risks, such as poverty or obligations and needs of care, which might impede the realization of life chances and well-being. Previous research has shown that migrants are particularly affected by challenges when accessing or providing social protection, because of unfamiliar welfare regulations in the immigration country and their family and friends being located in various locations, calling for an investigation of gendered dynamics in transnational spaces. In this special issue we aim to advance these vital debates by elucidating the social consequences of the articulation and organization of formal and informal social protection across borders for different actors involved through a joint investigation of gender and transnationality as key dimensions of social inequality. More specifically, the papers collected in this special issue are devoted to investigating the link of formal and informal dimensions of transnational social protection and showing its impact on unequal life chances of mobile people in Europe. This introduction frames the articles collected in this special issue from an inequality perspective, thereby pointing to the ways in which gender and transnationality interact with other dimensions of inequality in the field of social protection, which currently constitutes one of the most vital issues in the field of migration scholarship.

Reciprocity Within Migrant Networks: The Role of Social Support for Employment

“…Her accounts were also well-resonated with other participants of this study, pinpointing to a gendered understanding of care relations (e.g. Bilecen, 2019Bilecen, , 2020Bilecen et al, 2019). Some resources such as money Nilgün receives was reciprocated in terms of care relations either to the same person like her husband but also other family members such as her grandchildren.…”

The Influence of Gender and Educational Attainment Differences on International Migrants’ Occupational Status in OECD Countries

“…This outcome indicates that there is a substantial improvement in female migrants' occupational status in OECD countries. Previously, it has been indicated, in many research studies, that female migrants are mostly inactive and take a role in secondary sectors (Villarreal 2016;Sarihasan 2017;Bilecen et al 2019). This new result for female migrants can also contribute to a theoretical approach to gender differences in migration.…”

“The pandemic has added to my miseries”: Bangladeshi migrant workers’ social protection revisited

“…Social protection refers to “resources and strategies to deal with social risks, such as poverty or obligations and needs of care, which might impede the realization of life chances and well-being” ( Bilecen et al, 2019 : 1). It is usually targeted at the most vulnerable groups in society, involving various tangible and intangible resources and activities that reduce their social risks ( Faist et al, 2014 ; Sabates-Wheeler and Feldman, 2011 ).…”