Gender, Migration and Crisis in Southern Africa: Contestations and Tensions in the Informal Spaces and ‘Illegal Labour’ Market

Southern Africa has a long history of migration, but less has been documented about the feminisation of this phenomenon. Globally, there is evidence of the increase of migrant flows, with women increasingly migrating as independent migrants in their own rights. This change of migration dynamics is also observable in Southern Africa. As the standards of living continue to deteriorate within some Southern African countries, women have also been forced to migrate in pursuit of greener pastures. With cultural problems and discriminatory policies and practices in host countries, the situation of women can be precarious and more traumatic. Migrants and refugees who are not considered citizens with full rights face xenophobic reactions from the local population and may be expelled when economic and political conditions deteriorate. Owing to unanticipated hardships in destination countries, migrant women are seen concentrated in the informal sectors of the economy, doing informal activities and or in worst cases involved in illegal and immoral practices to make ends meet. It is from this perspective that issues of gender in migration are given full attention in this chapter.