Gender Differentials in Labor Adaptation among Migrant Groups: A Case Study of Forced Migrants in Colombia

Maria Aysa, Florida International University

The literature on forced migration shows that generalized civil conflicts affect the gender roles and occupational profiles of the populations exposed. In this paper I describe differences household headship, occupation profiles and employment status among persons with different migration experiences residing in Soacha, Colombia. The data come from the experimental census of this municipality. I divided household heads and spouses according to their migration experience in non-migrants, voluntary migrants and forced migrants. Views from the literature on gender and conflict cite the advantages experienced by female forced migrants who have resettled in urban areas are not supported by the findings presented in this paper. First, forced migrant households in urban areas are not likely to be headed by women. Second, forced migrant women are not more likely to be employed than men. Third, forced migrants are more likely to be employed in the informal labor market.