Abstract
Many European states have been affected by the so-called European migrant crisis of the 2010s. The UNHCR has said that focusing on integrating migrants is “the most relevant durable solution” for European Union member states. Policies can help pave the road to success for refugees and migrants alike in new, unfamiliar lands. Such policies are associated with migrants’ abilities to reunite with family, find jobs, receive healthcare and education, gain permanent residence and nationality, politically participate, evade discrimination, and fully integrate into the new society they reside in. Using a gender parity lens with cross-sectional, quantitative analysis, this research shows that an increase in female representation in legislative chambers improves the quality scores of migrant integration policy in EU member states. This research expands upon the literature regarding substantive female representation and offers relevant solutions on how the absorption of migrants in Europe can be improved upon.
Highlights
Many European states have been affected by what is referred to as the European migrant crisis—a period of a significant increase in irregular arrivals of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa during the 2010s
There is a visible correlation between legislative gender parity and the overall migrant integration policy score given to EU member states
This study finds that female representation in legislative gender parity has a significant, positive relationship on the quality of migrant integration policy produced in that country
Summary
Many European states have been affected by what is referred to as the European migrant crisis—a period of a significant increase in irregular arrivals of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa during the 2010s. 1.3 million migrants applied for asylum status in Europe in 2015, the most significant recorded spike of immigrants during the crisis (Pew Research Center, 2016). The vast majority—over 75%—of those seeking refuge in Europe were individuals from Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan (Spindler, 2015) These individuals and families fled from conflict or persecution, looking for a safe place to live in peace. While not all countries experienced the same level of immigration spikes, all EU states were affected by it at some level. Host countries tend to become apprehensive as they attempt to solve the political, cultural, economic, and security concerns that come with high immigration numbers (Hochschild, 2009). European host countries experienced such apprehensiveness during the years of the crisis. EU member states looked to international bodies for guidance, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as they sought to overcome these obstacles while still taking care of vulnerable asylum-seekers
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