Shaping gender inequalities: critical moments and critical places

Abstract

Purpose -There is much scientific interest in the connection between the emergence of gender-based inequalities and key biographical transition points of couples in long-term relationships. Little empirical research is available comparing the evolution of a couple's respective professional careers over space and time. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to filling this gap by addressing the following questions: what are the critical biographical moments when gender (in)equalities within a relationship begin to arise and consolidate? Which biographical decisions precede and follow such critical moments? How does decision making at critical moments impact the opportunities of both relationship partners in gaining equal access to paid employment? Design/methodology/approach -These questions are addressed from the perspectives of intersectionality and economic citizenship. Biographical interviewing is used to collect the personal and professional narratives of Swiss-, bi-national and migrant couples. The case study of a SwissNorwegian couple illustrates typical processes by which many skilled migrant women end up absently or precariously employed. Findings -Analysis reveals that the Scandinavian woman's migration to Switzerland is a primary and critical moment for emerging inequality, which is then reinforced by relocation (to a small town characterized by conservative gender values) and the subsequent births of their children. It is concluded that factors of traditional gender roles, ethnicity and age intersect to create a hierarchical situation which affords the male Swiss partner more weight in terms of decision making and career advancement. Practical implications -The paper's findings are highly relevant to the formulation of policies regarding gender inequalities and the implementation of preventive programmes within this context. Originality/value -Little empirical research is available comparing the evolution of a couple's respective professional careers over space and time. The originality of this paper is to fill this research gap; to include migration as a critical moment for gender inequalities; to use an intersectional and geographical perspective that have been given scant attention in the literature; to use the original concept of economic citizenship; and to examine the case of a bi-national couple, which has so far not been examined by the literature on couple relationships.

The Combined Effect of Qualifications and Marriage on the Employment Trajectories of Peruvian Graduates in Switzerland

“…Previous research has brought attention to the pervasive effects of the Swiss gender regime for highly skilled migrants-without Swiss qualifications-from countries with less traditional gender regimes (Riaño et al 2015). Recognising the combined influence of gender and migration regimes on the ability of qualified male and female Peruvians to capitalise on their educational credentials opens up interesting avenues for further research on the complex interactions between the educational credentials, employment outcomes and family formation patterns of particular groups of migrants.…”

“…The literature on student migration is rather ambivalent as to the long-term implications of access to qualifications from host country HE institutions on the life-course trajectories of highly skilled migrants (King and Raghuram 2013;Kõu et al 2015). In the same vein, only a few, recent studies of bi-national marriages have considered the role of qualifications on family dynamics (Kõu et al 2017;Liversage 2009b;Riaño et al 2015). to a national as a prime route for (female) highly skilled foreigners into host country labour markets (Kofman and Raghuram 2006).…”

“…Drawing on a life-course perspective, this article proposes to analyse events that demonstrate the interdependence of educational, professional, legal and family trajectories in the transition of Peruvian graduates of Swiss HE institution to the labour market at destination. We argue that the ability of migrants with Swiss qualifications to translate their educational credentials into professional capital is highly dependent on the negotiation of each spouse's career opportunities and caregiving responsibilities within their own household and extended family networks (Creese et al 2008;Phan et al 2015;Riaño et al 2015). Thus, rather than presuming a binary pattern of the higher education to employment transition for migrant men and women in the Swiss context, we propose to focus on the heterogeneity of the experiences of qualified Peruvian migrants, that partly reproduce and partly transcend the gender divide.…”

Introduction

“…Some experience extremely mobile transnational lives (Sontag, 2018b) while others organise their daily activities around a few geographically close locations (Berthoud, 2012). Most declare that they are satisfied with their decision to move to Switzerland (nccr -on the move, 2017) but some experience difficulties accessing the job market (Berthoud, 2015;Riaño, 2015;Riaño, Limacher, Aschwanden, Hirsig, & Wastl-Walter, 2015) and adjusting socially to their new environment (Ravasi et al, 2015;Schneider-Sliwa, 2013;Wiener & Grossmann, 2011).…”

Towards a socio-structural framework for life course analysis

“…The overall balance may nevertheless be positive for the immigrant, especially if the job pays according to the local norms of the rich country of immigration, although the costs of living will also be much higher. This is especially so as long as the immigrant mainly compares his/her new situation with the one before having emigrated (Riano, 2015). In the long run, however, the prevailing reference for comparison may shift to better-placed individuals and groups within the country of immigration, and positional frustration may increase accordingly.…”