Intersectionality of Gender, Culture, and Identity Politics in Migrant Women’s Integration in Africa

Abstract

Migration in Africa is a complex, multifaceted issue shaped by diverse factors such as conflict, economic challenges, environmental change, and political instability. The International Organization for Migration and African Union’s World Migration Report indicates that the latest available data shows that approximately 21 million Africans were living in another African country, and about 47.1% of these migrants were female. The intensity of migration flows in African countries has given rise to anti-immigrant populism, increased anti-migrant hostility manifesting through anti-migrant attitudes,
violent xenophobic attacks, migrant discrimination and marginalization as witnessed in various countries around the world. All these, in one way or another, are indications of a lack of or hindrances to migrant integration in host communities. This study explored how the integration of women in host communities is shaped by complex interacting influences of gender, cultural norms, and identity. Issues of gender, migration status, ethnicity, and socio-economic factors intersect to influence migrant women’s experiences of inclusion and exclusion in host communities. Drawing on intersectionality theory and existing academic research and policy documents, this study explored how identity influences public perceptions, legal rights, and social belonging among migrant women. It also analyses the role of cultural norms in either facilitating or hindering integration, particularly in relation to gender roles, community expectations, and institutional barriers. Findings show that intersecting challenges of gender roles and expectations, cultural norms, and identity increase the vulnerability of migrant women, complicating their integration pathways. However, despite these vulnerabilities, migrant women actively exercise agency, creating opportunities for their integration in the host communities through community-led initiatives. These insights call for a gender perspective in developing and improving migrant integration frameworks, policies and strategies to address specific realities of migrant women across the African continent.