Single motherhood and gender imaginaries in migratory contexts: A standpoint feminist epistemology for the study of migrations

Abstract

This article proposes a critical approach to the study of migration from feminist epistemology point of view, in order to understand the weight of gender structures in the migration experience. A qualitative research is done to explore imaginary of gender in Latin American women that currently living in Barcelona and that are single-mother, analyzing possible changes in relation to the experiences in the immigration context. The main results indicate that there is transformations of traditional gender imaginary, while not questioning the traditional bases root associated with femininity, do affect their experiences of motherhood and their experiences as women in migratory context. Thus, it is considered that migration experiences enhance mobilization towards less traditional views of femininity and motherhood, configured as an empowering experience for women.