Paper short abstract:

Work conditions of Brazilian women appear linked to structural aspects, rather than consequence of austerity-era Europe. The analysis of policies is focused mainly on two points, about the extent of the (in)efficiency and the political proposal in the attempt to revalue work of women

Paper long abstract:

This paper is focused considering the precarious and marginalized work of women, both paid and unpaid. In the case of Brazilian women in Barcelona, work conditions appear linked to structural aspects rather than consequence of austerity-era Europe. There is a limited occupational mobility in the host country for the highly skilled and overqualified women, who have worse employment status than Brazil. The prevalence of this situation involves work devaluation through the migration process and the redefinition of inequalities. In this sense, these circumstances are not understood simply in terms of a cause-effect paradigm regarding economic reform. Thus, the analysis of policies regarding work, women and migration, is focused mainly on two points. Firstly, about the extent of the (in)efficiency, what is related to structural situations due to they are not efficient enough. Secondly, considering that what have actually been destabilised over the crisis context, is the persistence in the attempt to revalue work of women through those policies, rather labour value in the workplace. On the other hand, migration of women is linked to structural inequalities in their country of origin, Brazil. Patriarchal norms, socioeconomic inequalities, and representations of postcolonial image, have influence on international migration, causing the rupture with the context of origin regarding the social reproduction process. Thus, women's perception about their work situation is linked to whether the goals of migration have been reached. Different dimensions of perception, rejection, empowerment and acceptance interact with structural inequalities, producing ruptures and continuities through migration process.