Migration Benefits Women

The World Bank recently released a report on International Migration, Economic Development, and Policy that indicates that women are the primary beneficiaries of migration. For example, girls in Pakistan see their rate of school attendance rise 54%, as against 7% for boys, when a family member migrates – the money sent home means the family can afford to send girls, as well as boys, to school. In both Pakistan and Central America, these girls tend to stay in school two years longer than girls without a migrant family member. Migration also seems to affect birthrates, as migrants tend to adopt the behavior prevailing in the countries they work in. For example, wives of Turkish and Moroccan men who have gone to work in Europe have fewer children than do other Turkish and Moroccan women, whereas wives of Egyptian men who go to work in the Gulf countries do not have the same experience. So when we work to implement thoughtful, humane immigration policies, we may also be working to improve female literacy and the numerous benefits that can accompany lower birth rates.