Migration is a natural phenomenon that has impacted the making of Europe and that cannot be fully understood with gender-blind approaches. Stories focusing solely on women migrants are now being told and the image of women such as wives, sisters, daughters, as ‘followers’ of male migration is being challenged by a new wave of studies acknowledging the relevance of women in migration dynamics and migration decision processes.
In the same vein, COST Action Women on the Move, a transdisciplinary network of researchers from 49 countries, focuses on historical and contemporary female labour mobility to show the presence and economic contribution of women migrants in European history. Launched in September 2020, Women on the Move’s transdisciplinary outlook combines a wide variety of expertise with the objective to unveil women’s experiences of migration in the face of gendered obstacles, but also as active migrants builders of Europe – with economic means, belongings, assets and social networks.
“We aim to reach out to the public on women’s presence in European migration history and their contribution to the European economy to contradict gender-blind perceptions of European migration and deconstruct sexist stereotypes, by revealing not only the constraints that women have to face in migration, but also their resources, power and agency”, says Women on the Move’s Chair, Dr Marie RUIZ.
“Women on the Move will bring about informed dialogues on European migration, with knowledge on historical and contemporary women’s economic potential, labour power, cultural and social belongings, as well as networking. This will contradict macro-narratives on the vulnerability of women migrants, sometimes perceived as economic burdens in the welcoming societies. We hope to raise awareness on the active participation of women migrants in the economic construction of receiving nations, as successful workers”, adds Dr Marie RUIZ.
As such, Women on the Move is structured around four research teams engaged in creating a repository of primary sources in cooperation with archives and libraries across Europe; gathering landmarks commemorating women migrants across Europe on an interactive map, available on the Action’s website; organizing an exhibition and walking tours; creating a MOOC, pedagogical activities and launching a book series; as well as interviewing migrants for a documentary.
The outcomes of these research activities will certainly contribute to the Council of Europe’s goal to combat gender stereotypes and sexism, the overall expected results of our project being to raise the quality of current debates on migration and unveil the presence of invisible women migrants.
Among other news and successes in this first year of activities for WEMov, a public lecture entitled “Women on the Move: Berdyansk Context” along with an outdoor exhibition of photographs of women migrants was organized in the courtyard of the main building of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University by our Ukrainian colleagues. Action members from Bulgaria, have been granted funding support for their project “Woman labor mobility – past and present”, by the National fund of Scientific Research of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science supporting the participation of Bulgaria in COST Action Women on the Move.
Further reading and ongoing activities
Two book series are being launched. One is already contracted by Manchester University Press, “Women on the Move. Past and Present Perspectives”. A sub-book series project entitled “Unknown stories” focuses on overlooked invisible participants in women’s migration, and it has led to two Call For Paper from WEMov participants on unknown stories of women migrants and on unknown intermediaries in women migration. Co-publications and cooperation include CFP on knowledge transfer, and intersectionality. Shorts stories are also available on our website and planned virtual exhibitions will further this project. One of our colleagues from Spain has been interviewed on the history of pandemics, and a Q&A on domestic violence was also published featuring one of our early career colleagues from Italy.
One edited volume has involved three WEMov participants, Art and migration: revisioning the borders of community (MUP, 2021), and an international virtual conference on women in science organized by the Romanian Management Committee member from Bucharest has also gathered WEMov participants. Additionally, co-teaching is also gathering Women on the Move members around collaborative pedagogical activities, and projects that are expected to raise future generations of scholars’ interest on our timely mission across Europe.
Branching out
Next September, the Action will hold its first meeting in Budapest with the opportunity to meet with local stakeholders. Stay in touch with the Action, and subscribe to their newsletter!
Additional information
View the Action website
View the network new website: WEMov