Conceptualization of Female Migrants’ Experiences across the Lifespan

Given the fact that migration is a complex phenomenon, it has become a development policy issue in international and national debate circles. It has a relationship with human growth and development across the lifespan because migratory experiences could have positive or negative effects on the well being of migrants. While males and females have migrated over the years, the general perception is that migrants are primarily males. Furthermore, although in recent years more females are migrating independently and as main income-earners, not much attention has been paid to gender-specific experiences of these migrants. Migration research indicates that female migrants are limited in the extent to which they could take advantage of opportunities and are more vulnerable to risks during the migration process. In this regard, this paper examines females’ migratory experiences across the lifespan with emphasis on (a) feminization of migration, (b) determinants of female migration and (c) risks associated with female migration flows. Implications are discussed for research, policy and social work practice. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n3p25