Moving 'On Their Own'? Mobility Strategies and Social Networks of Migrant Women from Maghreb in Italy

2022

I began my research by asking, ‘How can we understand the interrelation between gender and migration in Albania?’. As my research progressed, three other questions emerged, which necessitated, first, investigating the tactics migrant women used during migration; second, identifying their migratory trajectories; and finally, understanding their experiences in the city of Tirana. To answer these questions, I conducted interviews with thirty-two migrant women involved in internal or multiple migratory trajectories who were all living in Tirana at the time when I conducted my fieldwork.

Section: The Dynamics Of Social Networksupporting

confidence: 75%

Conclusions

2022

“…First, a critical development in migration studies is the practice, mostly by feminist scholars, of analysis that permits envisaging women as actors and protagonists in migration. In contrast to the image of women migrants as passive, dependent subjects, scholars have shown that women migrate on their own to help their families economically (Vianello, 2009;Schmoll, 2006;Parreñas 2000;Oso Casas, 2006;Dahinden et al, 2007;Dahinden, 2010;Erel et al, 2003). To investigate the agency of migrant women, scholars have applied the concepts of tactics (De Certeau, 1984) in migration studies (Kihato, 2009;Lévy, 2015).…”

Section: Student Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical Framework

2022

This chapter sets out the epistemological lenses and the central theoretical concepts guiding this research. Given the many theories and models regarding the intersection of gender and migration, it is important to highlight those that inspire this research and help to investigate and better understand how gender affects migration processes and, vice versa, how migration impacts gender relations. The first section of this chapter presents the main perspectives adopted here: feminist and constructivist epistemology. The next section discusses patterns of various migration trajectories. The third section gives a brief historical overview of the debate on gender in migration studies and clarifies the theorisation of gender and migration in this book. The analytical Chaps. 10.1007/978-3-030-92092-0_4, 10.1007/978-3-030-92092-0_5, 10.1007/978-3-030-92092-0_6 and 10.1007/978-3-030-92092-0_7 include other essential concepts and findings.

“…Other cases beyond Albania present the same configuration. For instance, Camille Schmoll (2006) reports that Tunisian circular migrant women work as traders and are their family's breadwinners through circular migration to Italy. Yet, they also continue to be in charge of the reproductive sphere.…”

Section: Negotiating Gender Roles and Relations Within The Nuclear Fa...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, Schmoll (2006) adds, women, do gain respect and legitimisation for their productive work. Eleni's experience illustrates a similar dynamic, although in her case, the respect that she receives comes mostly from her children:…”

Section: Negotiating Gender Roles and Relations Within The Nuclear Fa...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Balancing Opportunities and Constraints: The Experiences of Internal Migrant Women in Tirana

2022

This chapter explores the trajectories of those participants who migrated internally to Tirana for reasons other than education. The data draws from interviews conducted with eight women, the majority of whom had already married when Communism collapsed. These women provide distinctive insights as they stand on the verge of and link the late communist years with the post-communist period. The narratives of the following eight women are discussed and analysed at length in this chapter.