The experience of migrating women

Research output: Book/reportMonographResearchpeer-review

45 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Migration has become more common as globalisation has required more and more people to be transferred to countries other than their own for short or long term placements. Numerous women experience migration due to their husbands being transferred, yet the literature does not reveal much about how women adapt to their new situation as migrating women. If there are implications of this phenomenon for health, little research has been done to describe this. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of women who have migrated as expatriates. The study further aimed to ascertain if there were health effects as a result of migration, and how these are understood and experienced. This aim was achieved as the interviewed women all expressed health related issues relating to their experience of migration. The phenomenological research method described by Giorgi was used. Six individual interviews were conducted with women who had experienced migration and five themes emerged:

• Feeling alienated
• Coping - struggling to find my feet
• Occupation – doing something worthwhile
• Disempowerment - pulled up by the roots
• Transition – being “in between”.

The study shows that migration has an impact on health and well being for the expatriate woman. With increasing migration due to the demands of globalisation there are important implications not only for health professionals but also for international and multinational organisations and institutions, which require their staff to relocate as expatriates.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationCape Town
PublisherCape Town University Press
Publication statusPublished - 2006

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The experience of migrating women'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this