Social Networks and Economic Integration amongst Somali Migrant Women in Johannesburg (2010-2011; UKZN, Department of Anthropology, Gender and Historical Studies; Zaheera Jinnah)

The main research question for this study asserts that as economic actors in a migratory context the traditional role of women as secondary actors to men in Somali society is being challenged. In order to test this hypothesis, the nature of women’s work in Johannesburg and the meanings that it brings to their lives will be examined. The role that networks play within these areas will receive special attention. Secondary research on Somali women in Europe by Nielsen (2004) will serve as a comparative study: The research objectives of this study, therefore, centre on two areas:

Migration and Informal work
The contextual background of migrant’s work in South Africa and the broader South African economic climate in which this group functions forms the framework for this study. What are the barriers and obstacles for entry into the labour and business market as migrants in South Africa? How do these contribute to a greater informality of work and entrepreneurship? How do migrants create spaces for economic integration and what role do social networks play in this regard?

Sense of Empowerment
This study will examine various definitions of empowerment and relate it to a working definition of empowerment as experienced by female migrants. How does an engagement in economic activities contribute to a sense of empowerment for women? Does migration create spaces for the engagement in such activities?

Key research questions being explored include:

Process of migration:
Who migrates? What led to the decision to migrate for these women?
How do they migrate? What channels of information and support are available and used to facilitate migration?
How is migration for a woman different to that for a man? Does gender pose challenges to migration? If so, what are these?

Economic integration
A profile of the sample group: household composition, skills, language ability and education.
What economic activity are migrants engaged in? What is the nature of the work or business activity and in which sector is it located? How is this determined? How did the sample group enter into the business or labour market? What role have social networks played in establishing and maintaining economic integration? How does gender shape these activities? Are there obstacles to entry because of gender? How are these negotiated?

Empowerment
Does the sample group perceive a sense of empowerment as migrants or economic actors? How is this empowerment manifested? What meanings does it have for the group? Would such a state be possible if migration did not occur? Empowerment is difficult to measure and understand without a contextual grounding of what it means for the group. Class, gender and race shape how empowerment is defined. A subjective realization of empowerment will be explored in this study.