Migration, gender, employment: comparative perspective on the status of African female migrants

Yaghoob Y. Foroutan, The University of Waikato

This paper examines the association between migration, gender and market employment, with particular focus on the status of female migrants with African ethnic origin. The substantial changes in gender roles reflected in women’s paid work is identified as part of an important social revolution, a revolution in gender roles (Davis 1984) . This paper is based on the results of two studies conducted in the multicultural settings of Australia and New Zealand where approximately a quarter of population is overseas-born with a substantial ethnic diversity including those from African region (Foroutan 2007, 2011). Using logistic regression analysis, the paper examines the patterns and determinants of market employment of African female migrants and highlights their work differentials relative to native-born and other ethnic groups of female migrants. The multivariate findings of this study provide a multicultural basis to assess the settlement and integration of African female migrants from a comparative perspective.