Migrant Girls Research Articles

Inequality in participation in shadow education in mathematics in Europe: An intersectional perspective

There is a growing body of research on participation in shadow education (SE), reflecting the global growth of this sector. However, less is known about the topic from an intersectional perspective. Drawing on TIMSS 2019 and PISA 2012 data for European countries, this paper explores the way in which social background, gender and migration background interact to shape participation in mathematics SE. Our findings show that across European Economic Area (EEA) countries, migrant females from socioeconomically disadvantaged families have the highest probability of participating in SE at the primary school level, while native males from socioeconomically advantaged families have the lowest probability of doing so. At the secondary school level, regardless of their socioeconomic background, migrant female students have the highest likelihood of participating in SE compared to other groups. Our research reveals that contrary to common understanding, participation in SE is not solely determined by high socioeconomic status, especially for specific demographics like migrant girls, indicating the need for future studies to delve deeper into the various factors influencing such involvement beyond just financial means.

Civic Place Literacies: Tracing Urban Migrant Girls' Democratic Meaning‐Making Through Virtual Transnational Practitioner Research

AbstractHistorically marginalized youth shape public life through civic literacies that are rooted in their identities and experiences with systemic injustices. Literacy scholarship has accordingly traced how practitioner inquiry, a participatory approach to knowledge production, can educationally support the flourishing of these literacies. But while marginalized youth negotiate public life across multiple national contexts of inequality, this research has remained mostly nation‐bound. This paper extends prior scholarship in a comparative, cross‐national direction by exploring how, in a virtual transnational practitioner study, two urban migrant girls based in the United States and India—multiply marginalized youth from two of the world's largest and most unequal democracies—engaged in democratic meaning‐making. Tracing how youth took up learning invitations across two separate inquiry communities and one‐on‐one conversations with the teacher‐researcher, it foregrounds their civic place literacies: that is, their meaning‐making practices which reflected how their intersectional identities in their democratic communities shaped, too, their socio‐spatial navigations of those contexts. Tracing two themes related to girls' civic place literacies across India and the United States, the article concludes with implications for how future research and praxis can center urban migrant girls' civic place literacies, agency, and resistance across borders. (WC = 203).

CHILD MIGRATION TRENDS IN INDIA: INSIGHTS FROM NATIONAL DATASETS

The child migration in India is a complex socio-economic phenomenon profoundly impacting childrens well-being and development. This paper analyzes trends and vulnerabilities among child migrants using national datasets, focusing on education, health, and socio-economic disparities.The study identifies a significant increase in internal migration, predominantly rural, driven by familial and economic factors. Gender disparities show higher migration rates among boys, influenced by socio-cultural norms and economic incentives. The regional disparities highlight Goa, Kerala, and Maharashtra as key migration hubs, shaped by economic opportunities and cultural dynamics. Despite higher literacy rates, migrant children face challenges like early employment and educational disruptions. Health outcomes vary, with improved nutrition but lower immunization coverage compared to non-migrant peers.Child marriage rates among migrant girls underscore socio-economic inequities. Vulnerability analysis reveals risks among economically disadvantaged and rural migrants, necessitating targeted policy interventions. The policy recommendations stress legal enforcement against child marriage and robust implementation of education and child labor laws. Collaborative efforts involving government, NGOs, and communities are crucial to address the needs of child migrants, especially from marginalized groups.This research paper informs inclusive policies to protect child migrants rights and opportunities, aiming for a more equitable societal framework.

The Role of Vocational Schooling in the Empowerment of Rural Migrant Girls in Western China: A Case Study of Ethnic Mongolian Girls

Ethnic minority women in rural parts of China remain excluded from many pathways to economic and social success, including most forms of traditional education. While technical and vocational education and training (TVET) offers an alternative, it carries a degree of stigma and its benefits for these communities are not well-documented. This study uses structured interviews with TVET graduates in a small Inner Mongolian city to explore the benefits and limitations of vocational training for the cultural, economic, and social empowerment of ethnic minority women. Ten participants in the city of Eu-Qi participated in semi-structured interviews. They reported on their experiences in secondary and tertiary TVET programs, their post-graduation careers, and life choices. The study identifies an overall positive trend of empowerment, growth, and self-actualization: these young women lived better lives, had more opportunities, greater friendships, and far more freedom than did women of the previous generation who had remained in rural villages in the surrounding parts of the Mongolian plateau. The systemic barriers they faced were still substantial, however, including a limited local job market and the stigmas attached to vocational schools. Future work should systematically evaluate how well China’s vocational training policies are meeting stated goals, especially in ethnic minority regions.

Multiple animal bite injuries in a child: a case report

Animal bites are a leading cause of injury among children, of which dog bites contribute significantly to the burden of Rabies in the world. This was a case report of a 7-year-old migrant girl child who was admitted to the casualty as a victim of multiple stray dog bite injuries. The child presented with multiple and extensive lesions all over the body. Trauma related to animal bites cause not just physical pain and suffering but also emotional stress and carries the risk of Rabies which is a highly fatal disease. Prompt management of the case with post exposure prophylaxis against Rabies needs to be done immediately, along with wound management to ensure good treatment results and patient outcome. This report presents the case of a child who sustained multiple stray dog bite injuries all over the body. Patient was followed up for one month, showed good wound healing and recovery.

Unaccompanied migrant girls: navigating religious girlhood in the UK

ABSTRACT This paper focusses on unaccompanied migrant young women from Sub-Saharan Africa and the social workers who encounter them in the UK. Taking an intersectional approach, and drawing on notions of black girlhood, it explores how unaccompanied girls may attempt to re-centre their religious identities within diversely religious-spiritual-secular spaces. Drawing on data from research carried out by the first author, the article considers how girls continually adapt their religious practices in new gendered/racialised spaces, and explores the meanings attached to religious practice by social workers and by girls themselves. The paper argues social workers may benefit from resources to develop their religious literacy, and that organisations may benefit from drawing on post-colonial frameworks to critically examine social work responses to black, unaccompanied girls.

Participatory and co-design approaches for migrant girls’ wellbeing: A study in an urban informal settlement of Delhi

Children constitute almost 30 % of India's total population, of which there are approximately 63 million migrant children, with almost 50.6 % of this population being female (Census of India, 2011). Being one of the most vulnerable groups, young migrant girls, particularly those living in urban informal settlements, largely remain invisible from the public realm due to lack of safe and accessible open play spaces within their neighbourhoods. Set against this context, this paper examines the challenges faced by migrant girls in accessing play spaces. The participants of this study include migrant girls between the ages of 9–16 years living in an informal settlement, Jai Hind Camp in Delhi, India. This paper draws upon data from a cross-disciplinary study that uses participatory learning and action research and co-design methods, and demonstrates a bottom-up approach for co-producing play spaces for children. It argues that participatory and experience-led interventions with children are important to understand their needs and requirements in contexts of displacement, and demonstrates marginalised girls’ agency and ability to express requirements for designing their everyday play spaces, which in turn can contribute to their own wellbeing.

Is there a gender-based analysis of unaccompanied migrant minors? A systematic review of the evidence

BackgroundGiven the increased international arrival of unaccompanied migrant minors in recent decades, the need has arisen to optimise their protection and the resources offered to them. In addition to the known difficulties faced by unaccompanied minors, girls encounter additional obstacles due to their gender. Unaccompanied migrant girls face the threat of triple invisibility as minors, migrants and women. This reality is analysed in this study, which is intended to seed future research under a gendered approach to the reception and integration of unaccompanied migrant minors. ObjectivesThis study aims to verify whether the literature includes a scientific, gender-based analysis of unaccompanied migrant minors and, in turn, to shed light on gendered understandings of migration, unaccompanied migrant children’s characteristics, social needs, risk and protection factors, highlighting the main differences found between migrant girls and boys. MethodologyA systematic literature review based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines was used to identify research and international studies focused on unaccompanied minors, highlighting those that integrated a gendered perspective. ResultsThe search of different databases identified studies covering gender-based differences among unaccompanied minors across 17 countries. This analysis revealed some differential aspects among unaccompanied migrant children related to their social, health and educational needs that could improve social inclusion in the host society. The authors want to overcome the reductionism of analyses limited to disaggregating the data according to gender; thus, a more in-depth analysis incorporating other distinctive characteristics is put forward. ConclusionA better understanding of the experience and needs of migrant girls and boys should guide future research in this field to support the development of more effective, gender-specific intervention strategies.

Sexual and reproductive health of migrant women and girls from the Northern Triangle of Central America.

To understand the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experiences of migrant women and girls of reproductive age (15-49 years) from the Northern Triangle of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) during their journey to the United States. A descriptive, qualitative research design included 39 in-depth interviews with migrant women and unaccompanied migrant girls from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras from January to June 2022. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Migrant women and girls lack information and resources to manage their SRH during migration. The SRH of those traveling with smugglers is compromised due to their limited access to menstrual pads, water and sanitation services; the risks of transactional sex and sexual violence; the high risk of sexually transmitted infections; the inability to report sexual violence; the lack of access to SRH and prenatal services; and limited knowledge about their sexual and reproductive rights. There is a significant need for improved interventions during the predeparture phase of migration to inform migrant women and girls about the SRH risks they may encounter and to provide information and resources to support their SRH throughout their journey. Special attention should be directed towards trying to reach girls and women who will travel with smugglers.

Effect of Rural-Urban Migration on Age at Marriage Among Adolescent Girls in Bangladesh.

ObjectivesBangladesh reports one of the highest rates of child marriage (CM) (59%) in the world and the highest rate within South Asia. Age at marriage of girls is a critical human rights and developmental issue in Bangladesh. Migration has been documented to be positively associated with age at marriage. Bangladesh experiences one of the highest rates of rural to urban migration in the world. An increase in rural-urban migration of adolescent girls has been observed over the last few decades in Bangladesh with the expansion of employment opportunities particularly in the ready-made garment industry (RMG). This analysis explores the effect of migration on age at marriage and CM among adolescent girls living in urban slums of Dhaka.MethodsThe sample was selected from icddr,b's Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (UHDSS) and comprises of never-married adolescent girls aged 15–19, who migrated in from rural Bangladesh to slums in and around Dhaka during 2015–2019. These in-migrants were matched with their rural counterparts from icddr,b's Matlab HDSS (MHDSS), using one to one nearest neighbor matching with caliper 0.1 using propensity score matching (PSM) method. The sample derived included a total of 2,700 never-married adolescent girls from Dhaka and Matlab. The association between migration and age at first marriage was estimated using a linear regression model and the effect of migration on CM was explored using logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe in-migrants perfectly matched with their rural peers in terms of age, household wealth and religion. However, their income earning status was hugely different. Urban migrants had significantly higher age at marriage than the rural non-migrants for both 15–19 (Coefficient, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.07–2.46) and 20–24 years age group (Coefficient, 2.87; 95% CI, 2.18–3.55). The migrant girls aged 20–24 years were 71% (aOR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.12–0.69) less likely to get married before CM age bar in Bangladesh compared to their rural counterparts.ConclusionMigration has a positive effect on delaying marriage and reducing CM among adolescent girls. Findings from this study suggest that CM can be reduced by creating educational and economic opportunities for females.

Technical Vocational Education for Migrant Girls in Western China: Transformational Benefits

Migrant workers in China and their children too frequently are treated as outsiders in the city. This paper explores and compares the opportunities for female Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students in western rural areas of China. Learning from migrant girls how they perceive and evaluate benefits in and from their schooling provides us insights into how TVET played a role in achievements that rural migrant girls value and enact. The capability approach specified for education is used as a structure to assess TVET as experienced by its participants. This research shows that despite its deficiencies and obscurity within socio-economic structures, for the current generation of young rural migrant girls, TVET education was highly accessible, provided a singular opportunity and space to equip them with some skills and knowledge, and enhanced their capabilities to participate in a rapidly changing urbanizing economy. TVET education created changes on both individual and collective levels. Rural migrant girls’ opportunities were constrained by unequal migration patterns and were structured along intersections of gender and ethnic lines. Implications for improving TVET policy include improved information flow, diversification of TVET curriculums, standardization of regulations, and increased opportunities for female and ethnic students.

Labor Organizer Nannie Helen Burroughs and Her National Training School for Women and Girls

Labor Organizer Nannie Helen Burroughs and Her National Training School for Women and Girls

Migrant Girls in Australian Schools: Voicing Their Mathematics Learning Experiences

Migrant Girls in Australian Schools: Voicing Their Mathematics Learning Experiences

Child Labour, Seasonal Migration and School Exclusion: A Sad Story of Tribal Girls in Rural India

The present study explores school exclusion among the migrant tribal girls at the elementary education level in the selected tribal-dominated areas of Odisha, India. The major objective of the study is to examine how social capital theory explains the patterns of girls’ schooling among the seasonal migrants, which consequently leads to child labour and finally their premature withdrawal from school. In the given socio-cultural contexts, the impact of the process of enculturation on the schooling of girl children in rural India restricts their social mobility and equal opportunity. By using the theoretical framework of ‘social capital’, the study also explores the life experiences of tribal migrant girls to understand the phenomenon of school exclusion in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.

Niñas y niños migrantes en Antofagasta (Chile): experiencias de inclusión social y polivictimización

En este artículo se analizan las tensiones y las oportunidades que experimentan las niñas, los niños y adolescentes migrantes en los procesos de inclusión sociocultural que viven en la ciudad de Antofagasta, Chile. El estudio profundizó sobre las experiencias de múltiples violencias que ha vivido la infancia migrante, desde el enfoque de la polivictimización, la perspectiva interseccional y una visión crítica de la infancia. A partir de la aplicación de entrevistas semiestructuradas a niñas, niños y adolescentes migrantes, sus familias y profesionales e interventores/as, se concluye que existen prácticas de discriminación y racismo en el grupo de pares; se viven situaciones de violencia directa e indirecta en los barrios y comunidades donde habitan; también se constatan casos de maltrato intrafamiliar y de abuso sexual. Las múltiples jerarquías de poder y desigualdad que tiene especificaciones respecto del territorio operan en un nivel discursivo y en las prácticas de los agentes sociales, por lo tanto, se recomienda que la intervención y políticas públicas tomen en cuenta la realidad migratoria regional.

Masihlalisane1 Marriages as Migrant Adolescent Girls’ Survival Strategy in South Africa: An African Feminist Practical Theological Response

Masihlalisane1 Marriages as Migrant Adolescent Girls’ Survival Strategy in South Africa: An African Feminist Practical Theological Response

Perceived discrimination, loneliness, and non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese migrant children: The moderating roles of parent-child cohesion and gender

Chinese rural-to-urban migrant children frequently experience discrimination, which thereby often results in significant negative consequences. However, little is known about the contribution of perceived discrimination experiences to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived discrimination and NSSI, the mediating role of loneliness in this relationship, and the moderating roles of parent-child cohesion and gender. Six hundred fifty-seven migrant children completed a perceived discrimination scale, an NSSI questionnaire, a loneliness scale, and a parent-child cohesion inventory. Results showed that there was a significant positive association between perceived discrimination and NSSI among migrant children. Loneliness mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and NSSI. Moreover, parent-child cohesion demonstrated a moderating effect on the mediation via loneliness; the indirect association between perceived discrimination and NSSI via loneliness was only significant in low parent-child cohesion condition, but not in the high condition. Additionally, there were differences by gender, with a significantly stronger mediating effect of loneliness among migrant girls compared with migrant boys. The findings from this study contribute to the understanding of the underlying mechanisms in the relationship between perceived discrimination and NSSI. Discussion also provides directions for future interventions and delineate how programs could be designed to target loneliness and parent-child cohesion among migrant children.

Planned teenage pregnancy: a sociocultural health problem that lead to a local intervention

Abstract According to data from the National Statistics Institute (2018), Portugal was the country with the second highest birth rate in the European Union in mothers between 15 and 19 years old. This number of births may be influenced by ethnic-cultural issues, such as acceptance and encouragement of marriage and early motherhood, especially in some African ethnic-cultural groups. Our public health unit is located in Amadora, a suburban area of the Portuguese capital with a high percentage of migrants, a high rate of teenage pregnancies and economically deprived areas. The aim of our research was to understand beliefs and values in both native and migrant girls regarding motherhood in order to better tailor interventions aiming to prevent teenage pregnancy. We interviewed fifteen participants, seven migrants and eight natives, who were or had been teenage mothers. The participants were selected through non-probabilistic snowball sampling. Afterwards, we performed a qualitative content analysis. Overall, we found no difference between the 2 groups of participants with most, 12, having wished for their pregnancies. The social and religious framing of fertility as a gift was often stated. The housing context was also mentioned given several participants lived in overcrowded houses with poor conditions and believed pregnancy could have provided a way out of their living situation. Low education and poor job prospects were also mentioned as pregnancy was framed as a “life project” in the absence of a career prospect. We found evidence of a “social and cultural pregnancy” not related to certain migrant cultures but associated with a “neighbourhood” culture associated with economic deprivation. As such, we are now implementing a pilot study within the community, by creating regular group sessions to discuss the meaning and impact of motherhood to try to capacitate girls to find a different life project other than choosing pregnancy during teenage years. Key messages Teenage pregnancy can be planned who use it to try to find a life project, be accepted within their community and escape their daily conditions. Public health interventions aiming to prevent teenage pregnancies should acknowledge social and cultural factors that encourage these pregnancies.

The challenges of the mexican state in the application of the rules of international law in the protection of the rights of unaccompanied irregular migrant girls and children

The irregular migration of children has increased alarmingly in recent years, which is why the institutions of Mexican State have acted accordingly; but nevertheless; the excessive flow and the conditions in which the phenomenon occurs are complex; given the circumstances that surround it. In this sense, the purpose of present is to reflect about the challenges of our country in the application of the internal norm and the control of conventionality, the harmonization between both in order to protect the rights of irregular migrant girls and boys, whit special attention to those who travel without the protection of their family. The conclusions point to the impossibility of Mexico to face the phenomenon that reaches the point of humanitarian crisis, the inapplicability of the internal norm and even less the international one the matter.

From lost identity to identity grafting: The second generation migrant workers in Beijing

The first two decades of twenty-first century witnessed growing academic enthusiasm over rural migrant families and their children in China. Unlike those who moved to the cities alone in the early stage of migration, nowadays more and more migrants tend to bring their families and children on the move. Recent research unveils the tendency of these migrant families to settle in a destination city permanently. On the one hand, living with their parents contributes to the general well-being of these migrant children, but on the other hand, once they are settled in the city, the challenging courses of navigating host and origin contexts and negotiating rural and urban identities befall them. However, how these children construct their identity against the urban backdrop remains largely a myth. This study, based on 6 months of fieldwork at a vocational secondary school in Beijing, is a memoir of twelve migrant girls constructing a new pro-urban identity in the city. Adopting qualitative and ethnographic approaches, through the theoretical lens of identity grafting, this study addresses how these migrant girls navigate rural and urban cultures and interact with other parties involved in heir daily lives against the urban background, and how they graft their new identity.