Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the critical role of traditional and evolving gender norms on the way women perceive risk in the context of their pursuit of autonomy and empowerment using the precarious experiences of Ghanaian female migrants in the Gulf states.

Paper long abstract:

The imperative to attain gender equitable development outcomes has propelled women's empowerment as a significant global development objective. In Ghana, the migration of women to the Gulf countries has emerged as a contemporary phenomenon that offers a means of survival and social mobility. This strategy which has been beneficial for women looking to enhance their autonomy has often resulted in shifts in traditional gender roles. While women’s agency to make decisions about their mobility advances gender equality argument, such decisions are not without risks peculiar to them. Thus, the increase in the migration of women as either regular or irregular labour migrants has increased the risk of exploitation and gendered violence.

This paper analyzes how women perceive and understand the risks associated with the migration process. It also takes into account their risk knowledges both within their local context and beyond. The study applies the principle of narrative ethnography and biographical risk, allowing participants an opportunity to speak about themselves and their experiences of migration as potential, current migrants, and returnees. The research makes the argument that, the conceptualization of risk in relation to the migration process serves two functions: first, to reinforce agency for migrant women in households where gender norms are shifting, and secondly, to empower women in traditional gender households in challenging norms. Furthermore, it highlights the distinct understanding of agency within Ghanaian traditional households and how this influences the way risk is conceptualised in order to align with cultural norms, in ensuring the preservation of traditional household.