Migration, Family, Women, and Migration, Family, Women, and Children: Multiple RelationshipsChildren: Multiple Relationships

Gustavo López CastroGustavo López CastroEl Colegio de MichoacánEl Colegio de Michoacánglopez@colmich.edu.mxglopez@colmich.edu.mx

Regional Conference on MigrationRegional Conference on Migration

Seminar on Migration and FamilySeminar on Migration and Family

Tijuana, April 21-23, 2010Tijuana, April 21-23, 2010

To be addressed:To be addressed:

Migration, a dynamic factorMigration, a dynamic factor Social problems and migrationSocial problems and migration Grey tones in migration as a factor Grey tones in migration as a factor

affecting communities and regionsaffecting communities and regions Migration of boys, girls, and adolescents Migration of boys, girls, and adolescents

and socialization processesand socialization processes Education and migrationEducation and migration Family recomposition Family recomposition Women, migration, and emotional Women, migration, and emotional

healthhealth

Migration Migration from Mexico to the USfrom Mexico to the US

Given the wide geographic and Given the wide geographic and social dispersion, migration currently social dispersion, migration currently affects culture, history, the world affects culture, history, the world perspective, personal and regional perspective, personal and regional income and, finally, the daily life of income and, finally, the daily life of hundreds of thousands of families hundreds of thousands of families (about 2 million in the country). (about 2 million in the country).

Dynamics of Migration: Dynamics of Migration: An example after 1986An example after 1986

Entire familiesEntire families An increasing number of female An increasing number of female

migrantsmigrants An increasing number of migrant boys, An increasing number of migrant boys,

girls, and adolescentsgirls, and adolescents Dispersion and changes in labor Dispersion and changes in labor

marketsmarkets

Diversity in the Phenomenon of Diversity in the Phenomenon of MigrationMigration

Multiple Causal Multiple Causal FactorsFactors

Labor migrationLabor migration Migration for family Migration for family

reasonsreasons Involuntary movementsInvoluntary movements Non-economic variablesNon-economic variables

Various ActorsVarious Actors

MenMen WomenWomen Boys and girlsBoys and girls AdolescentsAdolescents Elderly personsElderly persons Entire familiesEntire families Indigenous Indigenous

populationspopulations

Differential “Causes” and Differential “Causes” and “Effects”“Effects”

The social history of the community/region The social history of the community/region affects the key characteristics of migration at affects the key characteristics of migration at a micro level:a micro level:

DestinationsDestinations Labor marketsLabor markets Modes of mobilityModes of mobility

Undocumented, Undocumented, CoyotesCoyotes, documented, , documented, contracts (H-2A visas, Canada Program), contracts (H-2A visas, Canada Program), etc.etc.

Gender / generationGender / generation Amount and destination of remittancesAmount and destination of remittances

Migration as a Factotum of Migration as a Factotum of Social ProblemsSocial Problems

Family disintegration and separationFamily disintegration and separation Faith-based changesFaith-based changes Increasing bands, gangs, drug abuseIncreasing bands, gangs, drug abuse Decreasing rural populations Decreasing rural populations Older rural populationsOlder rural populations Abandoning agricultural areasAbandoning agricultural areas Loss of identity and cultureLoss of identity and culture Problems “that did not exist before”Problems “that did not exist before” Etc., etc.Etc., etc.

Migration is one of Several Migration is one of Several VariablesVariables

It can be very significant

It is almost never the only cause

Its impact needs to be pondered

Four Spheres of Four Spheres of Importance of MigrationImportance of Migration

Socialization processes of boys, girls, and adolescents within contexts of migration

School, education

Family recomposition processes

Emotional health

Socialization Processes of Socialization Processes of Boys, Girls, and Adolescents within Boys, Girls, and Adolescents within

Contexts of MigrationContexts of Migration

A social mechanism occurring in migrant A social mechanism occurring in migrant communities to reduce suffering because of:communities to reduce suffering because of:

The departure of one or both parentsThe departure of one or both parents Their own departureTheir own departure Social and cultural adjustmentSocial and cultural adjustment

Socialization: Socialization: Reaching the Age to go NorthReaching the Age to go North

Everybody reaches that ageEverybody reaches that age ““We need to prepare them”We need to prepare them” Internalizing ideas about the North and Internalizing ideas about the North and

migrationmigration A legitimate aspirationA legitimate aspiration Conferring an objective aspect to Conferring an objective aspect to

absenceabsence Videos, photos, “souvenirs”, stories, mythsVideos, photos, “souvenirs”, stories, myths

““Trying out the North”Trying out the North”

Under-Age Persons in the Migration Flow(5-17 years)

Under-age Migrants, a

Percentage of the Total Number of

Migrants

Total Number of Under-age Migrants

5-9 years 9.06% 48%(22,034)

10-14 years 6.53% 35%(15,881)

15-17 years 3.25% 17%(7,905)

18.84% 100%Source: INEGI, II Population and Housing Census, 2005

School, EducationSchool, Education Loss of human capitalLoss of human capital

Silvia Giorguli: The trend to drop out of school when Silvia Giorguli: The trend to drop out of school when a family member migrates or when the migration a family member migrates or when the migration intensity rate is highintensity rate is high

Lindsay Lowell: Of all adults born in MexicoLindsay Lowell: Of all adults born in Mexico who finished high school, 15% are migrantswho finished high school, 15% are migrants 11% of Mexicans with a professional degree are living 11% of Mexicans with a professional degree are living

in the USin the US

2 out of every 3 migrant children who return to 2 out of every 3 migrant children who return to Mexico show perform poorly at school for 2 years. Mexico show perform poorly at school for 2 years. After that period they are resilient or they drop out.After that period they are resilient or they drop out.

The Teacher’s AuthorityThe Teacher’s Authority

Has your teacher told you about the North in class?

Yes = 83%

No = 17%

What did you understand from what your teacher told you:

Is it good or bad to go North?

Good = 61%

Bad = 35%

Intensity Intensity of of

MigrationMigration

GoodGood BadBad

High/High/very highvery high

49%49% 51%51%

MediumMedium 64%64% 36%36%

LowLow 71%71% 19%19%

Family Recomposition Family Recomposition Processes:Processes:

Negotiation and ReorganizationNegotiation and Reorganization New? families

Homes with significant differences in the ages of the family members

Long-distance parenthood

“Filial” homes

Social Stress FactorsSocial Stress Factors Long-distance control by spouses or parents (through Long-distance control by spouses or parents (through

the mother-in-law, uncles and aunts, telephone, the mother-in-law, uncles and aunts, telephone, Internet)Internet)

Sexual harassmentSexual harassment Fluctuating income (including remittances)Fluctuating income (including remittances) Decomposition of the social fabric (gives room to Decomposition of the social fabric (gives room to

gossip, defamation)gossip, defamation) Complexity of modern life at a local levelComplexity of modern life at a local level Lack of access to psychological careLack of access to psychological care Lack of awareness by institutions (school, church, Lack of awareness by institutions (school, church,

health care services)health care services)

A source of stress, anxiety, and physical-emotional A source of stress, anxiety, and physical-emotional problems for womenproblems for women

Emotional Health:Emotional Health:Emotional Disorders among the Emotional Disorders among the

Wives of MigrantsWives of Migrants

Anxiety Depression

ENEP, 2003 ESEM, 2006 ENEP, 2003 ESEM, 2006

National NationalWomen

Northeast ofMichoacán

National NationalWomen

Northeast ofMichoacán

14.3 18.5 33.2 9.1 11.2 23.4

Source: Survey on Emotional Health among the Wives of Migrants

A non-probability sample of 235 women with spouses from 10 rural locations with high migration rates in Michoacán. Carried out by 4 assistants in June 2006. Two standardized questionnaires were used, one for anxiety and the other for depression, as well as an inventory of disorders and management strategies.

Anxiety and Depression among Anxiety and Depression among Women, Women,

According to the According to the Migration Condition of the SpouseMigration Condition of the Spouse

Anxiety Depression

No migrant spouse

With a migrant spouse

No migrant spouse

With a migrant spouse

40%(30 cases)

60%(45 cases)

41.5%(22 cases)

58.8%(31 cases)

Source: ESEM, 2006, CER-Colmich.

The Penelope SyndromeThe Penelope Syndrome

Syndrome: A set of symptoms characterizing a disorder Syndrome: A set of symptoms characterizing a disorder or a situation or an increase in the probability of or a situation or an increase in the probability of developing a disorder; this group of symptoms has a developing a disorder; this group of symptoms has a meaning and an identity.meaning and an identity.

The Penelope Syndrome is found in women who The Penelope Syndrome is found in women who are subject to physical and emotional pressure are subject to physical and emotional pressure and can lead to somatic and psychic disorders and can lead to somatic and psychic disorders in a social environment with high rates of male in a social environment with high rates of male migration.migration.

Each year, 30-40 boys, girls, and adolescents are repatriated to Michoacán and are handed over to a family member in their community of origin through an administrative procedure (SRE-INM-DIF).

Repatriated Boys, Girls, and Repatriated Boys, Girls, and Adolescents in Adolescents in

MichoacánMichoacán

Follow-Up on Repatriated Follow-Up on Repatriated Boys, Girls, and AdolescentsBoys, Girls, and Adolescents

30% of the under-age 30% of the under-age persons who were persons who were repatriated were not in repatriated were not in Mexico anymore a year Mexico anymore a year later; 54% were not in later; 54% were not in Mexico three years after Mexico three years after being repatriatedbeing repatriated

Most of the repatriated Most of the repatriated under-age persons are under-age persons are children under 11 children under 11 years of ageyears of age

Only 1 out of every 10 thinks that repatriation was

positive in their lives because it enabled them to

escape from a family situation of violence,mistreatment, or crime. The others have

negativefeelings about this process.

One third of the interviewed boys, girls, and One third of the interviewed boys, girls, and adolescents had physical and emotional disorders adolescents had physical and emotional disorders due to repatriation and the experiences they had due to repatriation and the experiences they had while in transit and crossing the border. Therefore, while in transit and crossing the border. Therefore, the emotional health of deported and repatriated the emotional health of deported and repatriated boys, girls, and adolescents needs to be addressed. boys, girls, and adolescents needs to be addressed.

In addition, mechanisms to follow up on and In addition, mechanisms to follow up on and provide assistance to boys, girls, and adolescents provide assistance to boys, girls, and adolescents who have been repatriated to communities in who have been repatriated to communities in Mexico (not necessarily Mexico (not necessarily theirtheir communities of communities of origin) would be desirable, since these populations origin) would be desirable, since these populations need to be considered as children at risk.need to be considered as children at risk.

Since most decisions relating to migration Since most decisions relating to migration are not made by boys, girls, and are not made by boys, girls, and adolescents themselves but by their adolescents themselves but by their parents, grandparents or other members parents, grandparents or other members of their family, they experience stress, of their family, they experience stress, anguish, and anxiety caused by the idea of anguish, and anxiety caused by the idea of migrating, in addition to the inherent migrating, in addition to the inherent dangers of traveling without identity dangers of traveling without identity documents to cross the border. documents to cross the border.

Since most of the children under 12 years Since most of the children under 12 years of age migrate for family-related reasons, of age migrate for family-related reasons, it would be best to search for alternatives it would be best to search for alternatives for bi-national negotiations, considering for bi-national negotiations, considering the Child’s Best Interest, with the purpose the Child’s Best Interest, with the purpose of reuniting children with their families. of reuniting children with their families. Perhaps the “easiest” way is for children to Perhaps the “easiest” way is for children to “request” their parents. “request” their parents.

Research on Boys, Girls, and Research on Boys, Girls, and AdolescentsAdolescents

In view of the increasing research about boys, girls, and adolescents, an ethics reference framework and best practices for research need to be developed, particularly for research relating to migrant boys, girls, and adolescents.

Ethics committees exist in Psychology and Biomedical Science; they should also exist in Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, Economy, and Demography.

Final CommentsFinal Comments

The “social problems” in rural communities and locations are affected by multiple variables.

Migration is one of the variables.

However, at least four areas of research may be directly related to migration, and all four areas are very important because they compromise the viability of development in the regions and have an effect on social suffering. They are: Socialization, education, family recomposition, and emotional health.

Urgent NeedsUrgent Needs Public policy considering the new modes of family

structures is needed

Programs to assist children from homes with significant differences in the ages of the family members Education for grandparents Specialized training for teachers

Programs to promote the resilience of children in contexts of migration and in “filial” homes

Emerging emotional health programs for women, boys, girls, and adolescents

Special assistance programs for deported and repatriated boys, girls, and adolescents

Complying with best practices and ethics in social research with boys, girls, and adolescents

Thank you

Gustavo López CastroEl Colegio de Michoacánglopez@colmich.edu.mx