Contribution short abstract:

Based on 65 interviews with Haitian migrants in Brazil we explore the role of migration in shifting gender norms. While there has been a focus on the economic impacts of migration, we argue that this focus needs to be expanded to include social and gender equality concerns.

Contribution long abstract:

Based on 65 semi-structured interviews with Haitians who migrated to Brazil after the 2010 earthquake, this paper aims to explore if and how South-South migration leads to changes in gender norms. Although more is known regarding the economic changes on the lives of individuals upon migration (e.g. development of skills, higher wages, reduction of poverty), evidence is patchy regarding the role that gender norms play at changing the lives of migrants. Similarly, the way that individuals negotiate, adapt or reject new norms in South-South migration is less known.

Using the framework by Holly and Reeves (2005), we observed potential gender norms shifts towards: i) greater freedom of movement; ii) dress and outward appearance; iii) less acceptance of gender-based violence; iv) greater acceptance of women in paid work and; v) greater autonomy and decision-making process. Our analysis suggests these changes have been driven by factors such as a new economic household structure, opportunities to continue studying, exposure to lessen norms around purity and modesty and more progressive legislation. However, our data also shows that Haitian women have not perceived changes in other gender norms, in part because these are also part of Brazilian society. This was the case of women’s engagement in the job market and norms around unpaid care and domestic work. Thus, independence and empowerment come with a cost as Haitian women in our study bear the double burden of working within and outside of the household, having implications in their empowerment and integration in their host society.