Labels, victims, and insecurity: an exploration of the lived realities of migrant women who sell sex in South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 110-125
Author(s):  
Rebecca Walker ◽  
Treasa Galvin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Migrant Women

Breaking the Shackles of Gender Stereotyping to Create New Norms: The Case of Zimbabwean Migrant Women in Mthatha Town

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanction Madambi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gender Stereotyping ◽  
Personal Agency ◽  
Migrant Women ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Norms And Values ◽  
Recent Case Study ◽  
Traditional Approaches

The migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa is shaped by several factors and processes. Traditionally, the decision to migrate was mostly based on family considerations (where gender stereotypic roles were a priority), although in some cases the migrants exercised individualism and personal agency. This led to migration trends that were male dominated. Current Zimbabwean migration trends reflect large volumes of women as the socio-economic crisis forces them to leave their country. These migrant women encounter a myriad of challenges in their host countries. This paper explores Zimbabwean women’s migration to the town of Mthatha in South Africa, highlighting their challenges and the strategies they employ to overcome these, as found in a recent case study. Applying a qualitative research design and using questionnaires and interviews to gather data from the 100 purposively sampled women, the study found that many Zimbabwean migrant women in Mthatha encountered numerous challenges. They lacked the required documents to live and work in South Africa, experienced exploitation and marriage constraints, and had broken ties with their families back in Zimbabwe. According to the study, these women managed to navigate these challenges, rising above the stereotypic norms and values that used to label them as non-productive citizens to superheroes who were supporting their families and the country’s economy—thus breaking the shackles of gender stereotyping to create new norms. These findings underline the importance of shifting from the traditional approaches to women migration and pursuing perspectives that present migration as a critical component of the process of social change and development to all migrants.

Paradoxical Payoffs: Migrant Women, Informal Sector Work, and Hiv/Aids in South Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayatri Singh
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Informal Sector ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Significant Rise ◽  
African Women ◽  
Simultaneous Increase ◽  
Migrant Women ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Black African ◽  
Hiv Aids

In post-apartheid South Africa, there has been a significant rise in women's out-migration from rural areas and across its territorial borders for economic purposes resulting in gender reconfiguration of migration streams. Alongside, there has been a simultaneous increase in the participation of women in the labor force. However, this has mostly grown in the informal sector,1 which is often associated with low earnings and insecure working conditions. One consequence has been the increasing reliance of migrant women on survivalist activities such as informal sexual exchanges that increase their risk of contracting HIV infection. Insecure working environments also expose migrant women to sexual abuses. This article is based on the author's work in South Africa's major urban centers and examines the nature of the relationship between the increased migration of black African women in South Africa, the nature of their work, and their resultant vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

Images of Place: Visuals from Migrant Women Sex Workers in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsa Oliveira ◽  
Jo Vearey
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Migrant Women

scholarly journals Coping and adaptation mechanisms employed by sub-Saharan African migrant women in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Ncube ◽  
Yonas Bahta ◽  
Andries Jordaan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Migrant Women ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
Adaptation Mechanisms ◽  
The Family ◽  
African Migrant ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Host Nation

This article assesses the socio-economic coping and adaptation mechanisms employed by sub-Saharan African migrant women in South Africa using a survey and multi-attribute contingent ratings. The socio-economic and adaptation mechanisms were identified using a sustainable livelihood framework, which included political and cultural capital. This study focused on the rarely investigated South-South migration flows. The results found that the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of migrant women played a significant role in the coping and adaptation mechanisms they employed. Human capital ranked the highest, followed by physical, cultural, social, economic and political capitals. This implies that the livelihood capital has an implication: the migrant women need to have education and health services to survive in day-to-day activities of their life as human capital. They need also to sustain economically at least to cover house rent, food, communicate with family and assist the family as economic and physical capitals. Furthermore, they need to adapt, respect and live with the culture of the host nation in harmony and conducive environment as social, cultural and political capitals.

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