Migration, Remittances and Gender: a case study of the Dominican Republic

Abstract: International migration is a way to find work and support family members for many people in developing countries where income opportunities are few. The number of female migrants have grown and women migrate increasingly as main providers for their families or as heads of households. This thesis uses qualitative analysis to explore the migration process by comparing the reasons behind the migration decision with the outcome of the migration. Focus is on female migrants and gender dimensions and concerning the outcome the essay centres on remittances. Through a theoretical framework the general motives and determinants for migration and remittances, as well as their impacts are explored. To further explore how the migration and remittance behaviour of women and men differ and what the impacts of that may be, the theoretical framework is highlighted in a case study of the Dominican Republic. This case was selected because of its specific characteristics of migration and remittances and its recent trend of feminisation among migrants in particular. Out of the general situation of migration and remittances in this case, I choose to analyse migration to Spain from the community of Vicente Noble, to answer the questions of this thesis more in detail. Individual aspects are important, yet migration as a household strategy is most relevant to explain migration and remittances in this essay. This study shows that gender affects the whole migration process. Likewise, migration and remittances influence gender roles. In the case analysed, migration takes place to sustain the family. The high remittances sent by the female migrants, both as a share of income and in absolute terms, meet the expected outcome of the migration. There are signs of changes in gender roles, though there is variation.