Recent trends in migration indicate that streams are shaped by a confluence of factors including political instability, civil unrest, climate change and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid these changes, migration from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean indicate a need for closer examination.
Migration is a gendered process and impacts women and men differently: It is entrenched in a globalized sexual division of labor in which there is a demand for women migrant workers in specific service sectors, such as domestic and care work. While migration alone does not cause gender-based violence (GBV), during their journey, some migrants face situations where they are more vulnerable to violence. Numerous factors influence a person's risks and vulnerabilities throughout their migration journey. Alongside gender, a key factor is whether the migration route is safe and regular. Current and ongoing research also examines the gendered nature of migration as it becomes more feminized. Ongoing research highlights the unique challenges faced by female migrants as they transit through Central America, at the U.S-Mexico Border and within South America. Work published in Violence Against Women, Feminist Criminology, Race and Justice as well as International Migration speak to these trends. |