WHO PARTICIPATES The dynamics of inclusion and exclusion

1
WHO PARTICIPATES? The dynamics of inclusion and
exclusion

• Women migrants and ethnic minority women as
  vulnerable groups in Europe
• Joanna Legg

2
Introduction

• Who participates?
• Stratification of citizenship statuses and
  attendant rights with integration.
• Research, e.g.
• - Commission Draft Report on Social Inclusion
  2001
• - European Parliament Report on the Situation of
  Women from Minority Groups 2004
• - Commission Report on Social Inclusion in
  Europe 2006
• - Commission Report on Gender Inequalities in
  the risks of Poverty and Social Exclusion 2006
• identifies migrant and minorities as at risk.

3
Lisbon Treaty

• Democratic principles outline
• The rights of citizens
• - to participate in the democratic life of the
  Union
• - to make known publicly and exchange their
  views in all areas of Union action
• and institutional responsibilities
• - to maintain an open, transparent and regular
  dialogue with representative associations and
  civil society.
• Articles 8A-3, 8B-1 and 8B-2 respectively.
• Absence of direct commitment to migrants and
  minorities.

4
Ideological constructions, exclusion and gendered
regulations

• The migrant as a lone male worker, with
  temporary residency, women as secondary
  migrants Kofman 2003, Morokvasic 1993.
• Impacts upon migration, residency, family and
  employment regulations migrant and minority
  women lack substantive rights.
• Political exclusion, which involves the denial
  of rights to participate in decisions about the
  organisation of society, including the right to
  vote and take part in political organisations
  and community associations Kofman Sales
  2001
• The public-private divide Lister exacerbated
  by the cultural reproducer role Andall
  2003,Yuval-Davis 1997.
• Impacts upon womens participation in political
  sphere and social invisibility Samers 1997,
  commitments to widening democratic process and
  more participatory forms of democracy remain
  rhetorical.

5
Indirect mechanisms of exclusion

• Lack of gendered analysis results in failure to
  recognise implicit sex discrimination.
• Within migrant and minority groups, women much
  more likely to
• - join spouses under reunification or formation
  schemes
• - have precarious employment
• - work in the informal sector
• - have caring responsibilities.
• Women disproportionately disadvantaged in
  attempting to acquire citizenship status.
• Lack a platform to participate and actively
  engage with EU policy-makers.

6
Incoherence in EU policy the necessity of
gender-mainstreaming

• 2004 European Parliament Report on Situation of
  Women from Minority Groups, positive prescription
  for action involving migrant women in political
  life and decision-making processes.
• But, later reports, such as 2006 Commission
  Report on Social Exclusion admits to limited
  involvement of key agencies active in the
  field.
• Need for coherence, convergence, awareness of
  obstacles to participation and gender
  mainstreaming.