Feminization of Migration: A Global Health Challenge

Demographers are slowly bringing the migration of women to the forefront as women become the majority of migrants worldwide. Migration can provide new opportunities for women on their own or jointly with their spouses to improve their lives, escape oppressive social relations, and support children and other family members who are left behind. It also can expose women to new vulnerabilities resulting from their precarious legal status, abusive working conditions, and health risks.(1) Migrant women are triply disadvantaged by race/ethnicity, their status as nonnationals, and gender inequalities.(2)