Introduction to the Special Issue on Women and Migration in Globalizing Asia: Gendered Experiences, Agency, and Activism

• Published in: International migration 2010-12, Vol.48 (6), p.1-12
• Main Authors: Gaetano, Arianne M., Yeoh, Brenda S.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activism; Asia; Cambodia; Females; Gender; Globalization; Hong Kong; international migration; Labor Migration; Labour migration; Migrants; Migration; Pakistan; Peoples Republic of China; Regional analysis; Taiwan
• ISSN: 0020-7985; 1468-2435
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2435.2010.00648.x

In the past few decades of globalization, Asia has experienced dramatic economic growth as well as the widening of differences among countries in regard to standards of living and the supply and demand for labor (ESCAP, 2003). In turn, there has been a rapid rise in migration not only into and from the region, but also with the region (ESCAP, 2003; Hugo, 2005). In 2005, some 50 million of the world's estimated 190 million international migrants were in the Asia Pacific region (ESCAP, 2009); by 2010, Asia's total migrant population would reach an estimated 61 million (of an estimated total 214 million), the largest concentration of migrants outside Europe (ESCAP, 2009). Over nine million Asians were working outside their own countries within the region, according to a 2005 estimate (Hugo, 2005: 9). Today, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Brunei, Taiwan and Hong Kong are important migration destinations; Banglaedesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam are the main sources of migration labor; while Malaysia and Thailand occupation dual roles as sending and receiving nations (Hugo, 2005: 8). Migration within Asia has also become more feminized, irregular, and commercialized (ILO, 2006). Adapted from the source document.