Locating Premigration as a Critical Stage in the Migration Value Chain: The Premigration Experiences of Zimbabwean Migrant Women

Abstract

This article draws on the narratives of 29 Zimbabwean migrant women employed in the Johannesburg restaurant industry. It uses qualitative methods through in-depth interviews. Although there is a growing amount of research on the migration experiences of Zimbabwean migrant women, the paper argues that there is a need to deepen the examination of the premigration phase because it is the foundation of the migration process. A thorough examination of premigration in this paper offers a crucial understanding of the circumstances behind migration choices, encompassing incentives, decision-making procedures and premigration arrangements and plans. Some women incorporate menstruation as part of their migration plan and strategy. Menstruation may occasionally shield women from sexual assault by men when they travel to Johannesburg.