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International Journal of
Population Studies A Burmese woman’s migration and exclusion

While existing literature often conceptualizes power and generating employment, others remain
integration through frameworks of belonging, legal skeptical. Critics point out that although women’s
citizenship, or cultural assimilation, these perspectives participation in the labor market has increased, domestic
frequently overlook migrant women’s needs for autonomy, responsibilities, particularly caregiving, remain unevenly
self-realization, and professional development. For distributed. In some cases, transnational corporations
many migrant women, integration remains difficult due have even exacerbated gender inequality by exploiting
to structural barriers in host societies. However, their women as a cheaper, more flexible labor force (Kabeer,
aspirations for personal growth and independence become 2021). The consequences of globalization may thus
a powerful source of motivation, prompting them to disproportionately harm women, particularly through the
actively negotiate access to the resources necessary for intensification of poverty (Çağatay & Erturk, 2004). Due
self-development. This study draws on the story of Aye to their disadvantaged position in the labor market, heavy
and her intergenerational family history to illustrate how involvement in the care economy, and reproductive roles
migrant women navigate the tension between caregiving shaped by traditional gender norms, women face systemic
responsibilities and personal ambition. Rather than barriers to resource access and upward mobility. This
centering integration policies solely on cultural adaptation, phenomenon is widely recognized as the “feminization of
this paper argues for a rights-based, access-oriented poverty” (Ullah et al., 2023, p.2).
approach that prioritizes women’s autonomy. By ensuring Women refugee migrants face distinct gender-based
equitable access to education, employment, and healthcare, challenges. In many patriarchal societies, women have
integration policies can support migrant women not only limited bodily autonomy, an issue that not only constitutes
in surviving migration but in building independent, self- a violation of global human rights norms but also restricts
directed futures.
their access to leadership and decision-making roles
1.1. Literature review (Earth & Sthapit, 2002). Even in resettlement contexts,
entrenched gender norms continue to marginalize
This literature review examined existing scholarship on refugee women, preventing their full participation in
refugee integration, with particular attention to three public, social, and professional spheres (Gálvez, 2023).
interconnected themes: gendered barriers to employment GBV is another critical issue in the context of migration.
and education, the structural conditions shaping refugee Priddy et al. (2022), for example, documented the severe
women’s experiences, and the concept of belonging. It first
explored gendered norms and their impact on refugee GBV experienced by Rohingya women in Myanmar and
women’s access to work and education. The review then the ongoing challenges they face in refugee camps in
Bangladesh, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
examined how belonging has been theorized in migration The Rohingya, a persecuted ethnic minority in Myanmar,
studies and how it differs from related concepts such as have long suffered from systemic ethnic violence, forcing
assimilation. Finally, it identified key gaps in the literature nearly a million to flee to precarious conditions across the
concerning structural access and proposes a need to border.
expand beyond belonging-centered approaches to better
support migrant women. In crisis and emergency contexts, GBV becomes
increasingly prevalent, with vulnerable populations,
1.1.1. Gender norms, employment, and educational especially women, at heightened risk of abuse, exploitation,
barriers for immigrant women and violence. GBV is often rooted in gendered social roles
The rise of female migration has been a notable consequence and power structures, targeting individuals based on their
of globalization. Before the 1970s, the majority of migrant gender or the roles they are expected to perform. Cultural
laborers were male. However, global economic expansion taboos, social stigma, and fear of reputational harm often
and the diversification of labor markets have simultaneously prevent women from reporting such violence, further
reinforced traditional gender divisions of labor and created entrenching their vulnerability. These persistent gender
new dynamics that shift household responsibilities and norms severely restrict women’s mobility and limit their
economic power toward women. Female migrants are no access to critical services such as healthcare, education,
longer simply accompanying family members; they now and legal protection, thereby exacerbating structural
constitute a significant share of the labor force and are often inequalities.
the primary breadwinners within migrant households Employment plays a crucial role in refugee women’s
(Ullah & Chattoraj, 2023). independence and integration, yet numerous barriers
While some scholars argue that globalization has inhibit their full participation in the labor market.
opened up opportunities for women by decentralizing Refugee women consistently experience higher rates

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 82 https://doi.org/10.36922/IJPS025160060