On Their Own? A Study of Independent Versus Partner-Related Migration from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Senegal

Abstract

This paper focuses on the heterogeneity of female mobility and investigates whether human and social capital play different roles in women's independent versus spousal reunification migration. Using longitudinal data from a recent survey on migration between Africa and Europe, we compare the drivers of mobility of Congolese and Senegalese women. Based on discrete-time hazard models, we find that education and access to migrant networks are especially important in the likelihood of moving independently of a partner. Furthermore, different types of ties (excluding the migrant partner) are influential in the two forms of mobility. Female networks play a crucial role in independent migration but are less instrumental in triggering reunification. The differences between the two types of moves are however, more accentuated in Senegal than in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We relate this to the more rigid patriarchal norms restricting female autonomy in Senegal, both in terms of mobility and economic activity.

Reunifying versus Living Apart Together across Borders: A Comparative Analysis of sub-Saharan Migration to Europe

“…We expect LATAB to be a frequent arrangement among African couples, with a propensity to reunify that varies according to the origin country: More gender egalitarian societies are assumed to be generally more favorable to reunion in Europe. More specifically, in line with previous research (Riccio ; Toma and Vause ), we expect that couples from Congo and Ghana will reunify more frequently than those from Senegal, where females have less favorable positions according to various socio‐demographic indicators (Table ).…”

“…The literature also suggests a relationship between left behinds' attitudes toward reunification and human capital: In many contexts, the more educated ones are found to be more likely to reunify (Kanaiaupuni ; González‐Ferrer ; Toma and Vause ). Educated women would have both a higher interest in family reunification and a greater agency to realize their migratory project.…”

Together or apart? Spousal migration and reunification practices of recent refugees to Germany

“…In some cases, they may follow their husband for matters of family reunification rather than for being economically active themselves (Kanaiaupuni 2000). Female independent migration is still rather scarce from many countries of origin (Toma/Vause 2013). However, migration flows in other geographic contexts are, in fact, highly feminised as it was the case for Latin American migration to Spain in the early 2000s (Bueno García/Vono de Vilhena 2009), or the circular migrations of female workers in the service sector from Eastern to Western and Central Europe (Lutz 2004).…”

“…Focussing on Sub-Saharan African migration to Europe, several studies analyse family migration dynamics. Many of these publications are based on data collected within the framework of the Migrations Between Africa and Europe project (Beauchemin et al 2015;Caarls/Valk 2017;Caarls et al 2018;Toma/Vause 2013;Kraus 2019). There are also some noteworthy qualitative studies examining female migration from Sub-Saharan Africa (Vives/Vazquez Silva 2017), gendered family migration processes in Southeast Asia (Fresnoza-Flot 2018;Parreñas 2005), as well as family migration in the regional context of Mexico and Central America (Dreby 2010;Schmalzbauer 2010;Baldassar/Merla 2014).…”

Política de inmigración y los efectos de los ciclos económicos en la reunificación familiar en España

“…Additionally, several articles using data from the Migration between Africa and Europe (MAFE) project for Sub-Saharan communities have shown that "living apart together across borders" is a frequent practice for many couples. These analyses have pointed out the relevance of institutional contexts in the countries of origin as a determinant of the spousal migration decision (Beauchemin et al 2015;Toma and Vause 2013). Transnational families often lead to reunification processes that take part in the country of origin, which means the return of the primary migrant (Baizan et al 2014).…”