Migrant Women: Patterns of Integration, the Greek case Maria Liapi DIOTIMA, Center for Research on Women´s Issues Athens FeMiPol Integration of female immigrants in Labour market and society. Policy assessment and policy recommendations

a) a) Integration policies for migrant women in Greece b) b) Migrant women’s agency: Patterns of integration FeMiPol Integration of female immigrants in Labour market and society. Policy assessment and policy recommendations

New trends in female migration and the integration of migrant women in Greece: main points Integration policies refer to legalized and regularized immigrants leaving aside the great number of those who have not succeeded or chosen to get regularized Integration policies refer to legalized and regularized immigrants leaving aside the great number of those who have not succeeded or chosen to get regularized Unstable legality: The process of regularization should be seen as a continuum, a spectrum of consecutive phases of legality and illegality Unstable legality: The process of regularization should be seen as a continuum, a spectrum of consecutive phases of legality and illegality Major differences and great inequalities between migrants working in the formal and the informal sector: Women employed in the domestic and care sector still constitute an invisible labour force with no labour rights and access to social services and goods while at the same time take the pressure off the care system Major differences and great inequalities between migrants working in the formal and the informal sector: Women employed in the domestic and care sector still constitute an invisible labour force with no labour rights and access to social services and goods while at the same time take the pressure off the care system Policies are not only male-orientated but also family-orientated with a rather patriarchal approach towards them, despite the feminization of migration in Greece. Migrant women are visible for policies only as family members and victims of domestic violence and trafficking. Policies are not only male-orientated but also family-orientated with a rather patriarchal approach towards them, despite the feminization of migration in Greece. Migrant women are visible for policies only as family members and victims of domestic violence and trafficking.

Trafficking, mixed marriages, domestic violence, employment in the informal sector and social insurance are issues still regulated in a fragmentary way even through the new law 3536/2007 Trafficking, mixed marriages, domestic violence, employment in the informal sector and social insurance are issues still regulated in a fragmentary way even through the new law 3536/2007 The new immigration law as a whole rarely takes into consideration migrant women’s specific needs and characteristics considering their status and multiplicity of reasons leading women to emigrate, the diverse elements of their immigration. Many regulations amount to direct or indirect discrimination against them The new immigration law as a whole rarely takes into consideration migrant women’s specific needs and characteristics considering their status and multiplicity of reasons leading women to emigrate, the diverse elements of their immigration. Many regulations amount to direct or indirect discrimination against them Implementation of policies: all 4 governmental bodies and agencies are newly established therefore their organizational structure, role and responsibilities are in the process of maturing. Moreover they are understaffed, not much experienced with limited scope of action while deficits in resources lead to inefficiency of activities. Implementation of policies: all 4 governmental bodies and agencies are newly established therefore their organizational structure, role and responsibilities are in the process of maturing. Moreover they are understaffed, not much experienced with limited scope of action while deficits in resources lead to inefficiency of activities. NGOs and advocacy groups are playing a crucial role in supplementing the formation and implementation of policies still organizations and other collectivities representing civil society have been excluded from the formal procedures and competences NGOs and advocacy groups are playing a crucial role in supplementing the formation and implementation of policies still organizations and other collectivities representing civil society have been excluded from the formal procedures and competences

Segregation of migrant women in the domestic and care sector (non regularized) leads to great dependence on employers Segregation of migrant women in the domestic and care sector (non regularized) leads to great dependence on employers The right to self insurance facilitates in the short run their way in issuance of renewable short term work permits still it undermines their future in terms of the consolidation of their work rights i.e. pension, and creates insecurity as regards their long term settlement The right to self insurance facilitates in the short run their way in issuance of renewable short term work permits still it undermines their future in terms of the consolidation of their work rights i.e. pension, and creates insecurity as regards their long term settlement Being in the most cases well educated migrant women undergone a severe deskilling process. Moreover there are reskilling policies and the great majority have no access to vocational training for unemployed as they cannot prove their unemployment Being in the most cases well educated migrant women undergone a severe deskilling process. Moreover there are reskilling policies and the great majority have no access to vocational training for unemployed as they cannot prove their unemployment

Migrant women’s agency: Patterns of integration The sample (20 women) The great majority originates from ex socialist countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans (Russia, Ukraine, Georgia/Kazakhstan, Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania and Albania) as well as two African women (from Sierra Leone and Nigeria). Their age ranges from 25 to 57. The great majority originates from ex socialist countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans (Russia, Ukraine, Georgia/Kazakhstan, Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania and Albania) as well as two African women (from Sierra Leone and Nigeria). Their age ranges from 25 to 57. In terms of their family situation most of them were married with children and only one was single, while from the married ones 13 are either separated or divorced and one is a single mother. Eleven (11) cases have, at least one, under aged dependent children either living with them or in their home country. Most migrant women from Albania have migrated with other family members – siblings- who also live in Greece (kinship migration). In terms of their family situation most of them were married with children and only one was single, while from the married ones 13 are either separated or divorced and one is a single mother. Eleven (11) cases have, at least one, under aged dependent children either living with them or in their home country. Most migrant women from Albania have migrated with other family members – siblings- who also live in Greece (kinship migration). Their legal status varies between dependent legalization (2 cases with family reunification), to marriage with natives or omogeneis (3), whereas the rest manage to get the provisional residence permit renewed every 2 years apart from those who originate from new member states of the EU (Poland, Rumania, Bulgaria) for whom new transition legal provisions have been applied. Their legal status varies between dependent legalization (2 cases with family reunification), to marriage with natives or omogeneis (3), whereas the rest manage to get the provisional residence permit renewed every 2 years apart from those who originate from new member states of the EU (Poland, Rumania, Bulgaria) for whom new transition legal provisions have been applied. 9 migrant women work in the domestic sector being undocumented by choice or having no other way as employers do not accept to document them. 9 migrant women work in the domestic sector being undocumented by choice or having no other way as employers do not accept to document them. In terms of their educational and professional background, 13 women are well educated – holding university degrees – and have had a professional career in their countries of origin. In terms of their educational and professional background, 13 women are well educated – holding university degrees – and have had a professional career in their countries of origin.

Migration types and patterns Marriage migration -Family migration - Sole migration Male dominated plan of migration A male dominated migration plan leading to the loss of migrant woman’s independence A male dominated migration plan leading to the loss of migrant woman’s independence The interruption of the family formation migration plan and the re-orientation towards an independent migration plan The interruption of the family formation migration plan and the re-orientation towards an independent migration plan The failure of a mixed marriage changes the family migration plan into an independent migration plan The failure of a mixed marriage changes the family migration plan into an independent migration plan Independent migration plan Becoming the sole breadwinner of the family Becoming the sole breadwinner of the family A migrant pensioner A migrant pensioner An independent migration plan for the sake of the children An independent migration plan for the sake of the children An independent migration plan under the urgent need to escape personal problems and exploitation or find better life prospects An independent migration plan under the urgent need to escape personal problems and exploitation or find better life prospects Forced migration Migration due to political crisis and war Migration due to political crisis and war A migration plan based on idealized images of and beliefs about Greece A migration plan based on idealized images of and beliefs about Greece Forced to migrate because of child’s health problems Forced to migrate because of child’s health problems

Work in the informal domestic sector as the only route to gain entrance into the labour market Trapped in the informal sector of domestic work due to gendered legalization procedures (family reunification) Trapped in the informal sector of domestic work due to gendered legalization procedures (family reunification) Asymmetries in gender relations and the family (re)negotiation processes Asymmetries in gender relations and the family (re)negotiation processes Reverting to the informal domestic sector despite the efforts to enter other segments of the labour market Reverting to the informal domestic sector despite the efforts to enter other segments of the labour market The “choice” of informal domestic work as the only way to handle extreme conditions of social exclusion The “choice” of informal domestic work as the only way to handle extreme conditions of social exclusion

Between constraints and chances: social integration strategies of informal domestic workers Limited access to state welfare entitlements Limited access to state welfare entitlements Work strategies and contractual relationships for gaining flexibility in the informal domestic labour market Work strategies and contractual relationships for gaining flexibility in the informal domestic labour market Hardworking and trustworthy at work as strategies for self identification and social integration Hardworking and trustworthy at work as strategies for self identification and social integration Single migrant women’s internalization of the dominant stereotype leads to their social isolation and limited chances for social integration Single migrant women’s internalization of the dominant stereotype leads to their social isolation and limited chances for social integration Children as a priority and a decisive factor for succeeding (or not) social integration Children as a priority and a decisive factor for succeeding (or not) social integration Coping with language skills Coping with language skills Participation in (informal) social and ethnic networks Participation in (informal) social and ethnic networks

Live-in formal domestic work The choice of live-in domestic work as a way to secure legalization, residence stabilization and greater earnings to be remitted The choice of live-in domestic work as a way to secure legalization, residence stabilization and greater earnings to be remitted Economic integration versus social exclusion Economic integration versus social exclusion The advantages of live-in domestic work for short term migration plans versus its long term disadvantages The advantages of live-in domestic work for short term migration plans versus its long term disadvantages The painful dilemmas of being a migrant mother and the sole bread-winner of a transnational family The painful dilemmas of being a migrant mother and the sole bread-winner of a transnational family Acquisition of the Greek language is facilitated through daily contacts with natives Acquisition of the Greek language is facilitated through daily contacts with natives Processes of deskilling and downwards social mobility Processes of deskilling and downwards social mobility Deprived from chances and opportunities to develop social relations with both natives and co-ethnics Deprived from chances and opportunities to develop social relations with both natives and co-ethnics Integration into the private sphere (family) and exclusion from the public Integration into the private sphere (family) and exclusion from the public Inability to make plans for the future because of the ever changing transnational family needs Inability to make plans for the future because of the ever changing transnational family needs

Attempts for integration through self employment Self employment as the only way to cope with the exclusion from the public childcare services and with family reconciliation needs Self employment as the only way to cope with the exclusion from the public childcare services and with family reconciliation needs Self employment as a survival solution Self employment as a survival solution Inclusion into the labour market undermines children’s well being Inclusion into the labour market undermines children’s well being Self employment as a means to regain the lost social status and give meaning to the migration plan Self employment as a means to regain the lost social status and give meaning to the migration plan Acquisition of language skills is considered a capital for economic and social integration Acquisition of language skills is considered a capital for economic and social integration The role of personal relationships/or marriage with Greek men in the economic and social integration process The role of personal relationships/or marriage with Greek men in the economic and social integration process

Transformation of voluntary work into paid labour Political participation and activism as an enabling process to the development of a migrant identity and a social integration process Political participation and activism as an enabling process to the development of a migrant identity and a social integration process Gender emancipation vis-à-vis migrant exclusion Gender emancipation vis-à-vis migrant exclusion

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