Migrant Women: Trapped Between Jobs and Danger

Migrant women often face a tough reality. They struggle to find stable jobs, which puts them at risk of gender-based violence (GBV). Many studies highlight this problem, but there are significant gaps in our understanding.

Key Findings from Recent Research

A recent review analyzed 50 studies and found that poor job conditions increase the likelihood of GBV among migrant women. The review used two key frameworks:

1. Intersectionality
2. Feminist Political Economy

These frameworks help explain how different factors interact, linking unstable jobs to higher risks of GBV.

The Impact of Unstable Jobs

Migrant women often take jobs that are:

• Unstable
• Low-paying
• Lacking security

These conditions create serious challenges, including:

• Unpredictable work hours leading to stress and work-life imbalance.
• Increased domestic violence due to financial and emotional strain.

Debt Traps and Exploitation

Some women fall into debt cycles to migrate, making them vulnerable to:

• Abuse
• Exploitation
• Human trafficking (as noted in some studies)

Policy Recommendations

The review calls for better policies to:

• Support migrant women
• Address the root causes of unstable jobs

By doing so, we can:

• Reduce GBV
• Improve the lives of migrant women