Women in Asian Cities: Policies, Public Services, and Research

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the main policy planning and research issues related to female migration and women in Asian countries. 2 aspects of development have a profound effect on the migration of women to cities in Asia: The increasing level of female education and the strategy of industrialization adopted in several East and Southeast Asian countries. Migrant women tend to be more educated than those remaining in the rural areas. An urban bias in the quality and availability of educational facilities contributes sigificantly to the educational selectivity of migrants. Employment opportunities for women have resulted from the industrialization strategy adopted by some countries. The womans financial contribution to her familys resources and the link she can provide in the city for new arrivals from the village enhance her status within the family. Rural to urban migrants tend to be in the 15-29 age group and women migrants are usually younger than men. An imbalance of the sex ratio can alter marriage patterns and where agricultural tasks are sex-specific cause changes in labor practices. Another important effect of migration on rural sending areas is the value of remittances received by family members remaining behind and their use of remittances. More efficient and responsive services can be designed if low-income urban and migrant women are regarded not as a single clinet group but as several groups identified by age marital status economic activity and family responsibilities. Each of these factors is considered in this chapter. The rising trend in female urbanward migration and related patterns of sex selectivity in migration streams pose interesting research questions about the relationship of these patterns to cultural forces the pace of urbanization and strategies of development. 3 research areas deserve high priority: the changing demographic picture; the need for public services and facilies for single female migrants from rural areas and female heads of household in large cities; and the impact on rural sending communities.