Challenges of migrant and refugee women in local integration processes: Case of Venezuela and Colombia “Welcome all”

Proceedings of The 4th Global Conference on Women’s Studies

Year: 2022

DOI:

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Challenges of migrant and refugee women in local integration processes: Case of Venezuela and Colombia “Welcome all”

Daniela Acosta Gálvez

ABSTRACT: 

This paper is the product of a work dissertation as partially fulfilling the degree requirements for the MSC in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies of the London School of Economics and Political Science. The research examines the reasons why local integration processes are different between men and women from a gender perspective. The challenges migrants and refugee women face in accessing rights and benefits due to the prevalence of traditional gender norms, and inequitable and discriminatory power structures are addressed. How gender is defined and conceived has shaped migration patterns and, in turn, subsequent phases of displacement. Therefore, women assume burdens related to their condition and are excluded from the social and economic spheres necessary for their recovery and promotion of capacities. In conclusion, even when local integration processes offered equal legal guarantees for women and men, women faced more challenges than men due to the heteronormative system. These ideas are supported by qualitative and quantitative research and the case study of refugee and migrant women in Colombia.

keywords: gender, local integration, migration, power, burdens