Throughout the rise of globalization in 1970’s, capitalist multinational corporations
that are aiming higher productivity, cheaper costs and tax-free profits have entered poor
countries on the periphery of the world economy. In assembly lines, they mostly prefer
women whom are paid lower wages than men. By feminizing the workforce without
providing efficient wages to satisfy their needs, feminization of migration has become a
current issue. Although Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory (1974) advocates that migration
from the periphery to developed countries is a natural outcome of this exploitative system, not
all women can migrate. I will argue that the traditional family structure, patriarchal and
cultural norms of the society, even the system itself constrain married women in the migration
process.
At first, looking inside the family, women are the caregivers of the home. Raising
children, caring the sick and the elderly is considered their task traditionally. Married women
are still forced to play their role as a caregiver even when they have begun earning money.
Instead of migrating and leaving their children behind in the care of grandparents, they are
expected to prefer supporting a migrant husband while they are raising their potential migrant
son who will be the future head of household and the breadwinner for the family. Hence, men
continue to have decision making authority in migration matters, and women are expected not
to challenge the husband’s authority.
Furthermore, importance of preserving family prestige and being a virtuous wife is, in
fact, an influential patriarchal norm when it comes to migrating as a married woman. Since
female migrants could be regarded as being quite vulnerable against sexual abuse and
violence they might be exposed to, it would not be culturally acceptable to migrate which is
considered to possibly bring shame to the family. Not only the family and the society have
such concerns, but also the married women. Since migration is quiet risky in terms of the
working environment; health and safety conditions and a permanent settlement is not
Gülşah Suileten
2016300183
SOC262/Fall2018
Assignment 2
