Page 13 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 13
Gendered Migration and the Social
Integration of Migrants in Slovenia
Karmen Medica
University of Primorska, Slovenia
karmen.medica@fhs.upr.si
Several topical issues arising from the contemporary migrant context, at both
regional and global levels, are addressed in the chapter. First, when it comes to
the sphere of the European Union, the emphasis is on the issues of integration
in the migrant context, as well as the security situation. Women have often
been heavily involved in the survival of their families and communities, but
today the ‘feminisation of migration’ and ‘feminisation of survival’ processes
are very evident. These two phrases highlight the increasingly public and visi-
ble forms of women’s contribution to families, along with their contribution to
the state and society (immigrant and emigrant), especially the growing world
demand for their services. Although women have always migrated, develop-
ments in the last decades sustain both their presence in international migra-
tion flows and their recognition as migrants. The focus of this contribution on
presenting certain results of ongoing research, chiefly on the social integration
of migrants in Slovenia.
Introduction
Contemporary modernisation and migration processes have put the is-
sue of regulating migration policies and integration strategies in the cen-
tre of interest in the social sciences, despite the national security interest
which primarily entails positive identification of target (Bade, 2005; Scheffer,
2011).
The migration of women has always been an important component of in-
ternational migration. The United Nations Population Division estimates that
in the year 2000 49 of all international migrants were women or girls, and
that the proportion of women among international migrants had reached
51 in more developed regions. Women often migrate officially as depen-
dent family members of other migrants or to marry someone in another
country. Female migrants are, however, increasingly joining flows of migrant
workers, moving on their own to become the principal wage earners for
their families. Most migrant women move voluntarily, but women and girls
also include migrants forced to leave their countries to flee conflict, perse-
cution, environmental degradation, natural disasters or other situations that
11
Integration of Migrants in Slovenia
Karmen Medica
University of Primorska, Slovenia
karmen.medica@fhs.upr.si
Several topical issues arising from the contemporary migrant context, at both
regional and global levels, are addressed in the chapter. First, when it comes to
the sphere of the European Union, the emphasis is on the issues of integration
in the migrant context, as well as the security situation. Women have often
been heavily involved in the survival of their families and communities, but
today the ‘feminisation of migration’ and ‘feminisation of survival’ processes
are very evident. These two phrases highlight the increasingly public and visi-
ble forms of women’s contribution to families, along with their contribution to
the state and society (immigrant and emigrant), especially the growing world
demand for their services. Although women have always migrated, develop-
ments in the last decades sustain both their presence in international migra-
tion flows and their recognition as migrants. The focus of this contribution on
presenting certain results of ongoing research, chiefly on the social integration
of migrants in Slovenia.
Introduction
Contemporary modernisation and migration processes have put the is-
sue of regulating migration policies and integration strategies in the cen-
tre of interest in the social sciences, despite the national security interest
which primarily entails positive identification of target (Bade, 2005; Scheffer,
2011).
The migration of women has always been an important component of in-
ternational migration. The United Nations Population Division estimates that
in the year 2000 49 of all international migrants were women or girls, and
that the proportion of women among international migrants had reached
51 in more developed regions. Women often migrate officially as depen-
dent family members of other migrants or to marry someone in another
country. Female migrants are, however, increasingly joining flows of migrant
workers, moving on their own to become the principal wage earners for
their families. Most migrant women move voluntarily, but women and girls
also include migrants forced to leave their countries to flee conflict, perse-
cution, environmental degradation, natural disasters or other situations that
11
