A systematic Literature review on the Impact of Migration on Gender

Abstract

Migratory movements are influenced by gender, with women and men having distinct migration aspirations, experiences, network structures, and integration outcomes. The mechanisms behind migration differences, primarily discovered through qualitative research, are well-understood, but quantifying the heterogeneity in migration patterns remains largely unexplored. This paper presents a systematic literature review on the impact of migration on gender roles, with a particular focus on women’s paid work. The study examines the association between migration and changes in gender roles, particularly how migration influences female labor force participation. The primary migrant group under study consists of women from Afghanistan, Australia, Pakistan, India, and Africa, regions that display diverse gender norms, ranging from traditional roles with low female labor force participation to more progressive contexts where women's work participation is higher. The paper analyzes these groups’ experiences to explore how migration affects women's economic roles in host countries. Through multivariate analysis, the study provides empirical evidence that migration can influence the transformation of gender roles, highlighting the factors that shape women's entry into paid work. The findings suggest that migration is a key factor in reshaping traditional gender expectations and improving women’s participation in the labor market, with implications for policy and gender equality initiatives globally.