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Utilization and benefits of
remittances for Guatemalan women – Results of a survey carried out by IOM and
UN-INSTRAW
5 October 2007
The
2007 Survey on Remittances from a Gender Perspective, published by the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations
International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women
(UN-INSTRAW), shows the impact of migratory experiences in the case of
Guatemalan migrants and recipients of remittances, through 3,000 household
interviews.
“With these results, new information is available on the wide and complex
phenomenon of international migration and its impacts. The data found in this
publication can be the basis for the formulation of gender indicators
concerning international migration. It provides valuable information for the
formulation of public policies and for planning of programmes and projects
which promote of the productive utilization of remittances,” explained Victor
Lozano, Official of IOM Guatemala.
On the other hand, “If the whole migratory process is not examined from a
gender perspective, it is very difficult to contribute to the definition of
public policies on behalf of migrant men and women and to make optimum
utilization of remittances for the development of Guatemala,” emphasized Mar
Garcia, a UN-INSTRAW researcher.
According to the data obtained from this survey, during 2007 approximately
1,482,247 Guatemalans reside overseas, 72.0% of which are men and 28% women.
The survey also shows a 23% increase in the number of women migrants.
As the report underlines, “…migration has generated new opportunities for
many women: more economic autonomy and independence, the opening of new
social spaces for participation, greater decision-making power and control
over household resources and the transformation of gender roles within the
family in the country of origin.” Women who migrate become senders of
remittances that often constitute the main source of income for their
households.
On the other hand, “when women stay at home they become administrators of the
family patrimony and remittances, they engage in agricultural activities and
in the children’s education; they become heads of households and, when
remittances arrive, they manage them and purchase real estate. Otherwise,
they would have to involve themselves in income-generating activities.”
“Women acquire greater decision-making power because in the end, they are
responsible for the well-being of the household; migrating, sending
remittances to their households of origin and managing remittances,” stated
Mar García, highlighting the importance of the results of the survey in the
framework of UN-INSTRAW’s research in different countries around the world.
This research shows that 84.8% of migrants send remittances to Guatemala. Of
these senders 74.2% are men and 25.8% are women. It is important to point out
that among the households that receive remittances, 37% of recipients are men
and 67% are women.
According to the survey, 49% of remittances are destined for basic
consumption (purchase of food, clothing and shoes, transportation, household
appliances, etc.). Men, in particular, dedicate 17% of remittances to
consumption expenses and women dedicate 32%. In the intermediate consumption
of income and/or merchandise for income-generating activities, no significant
differences between men and women were observed (5% for men and 10% for
women, respectively). On the other hand, the survey shows that women invest
in the purchase of real estate (54.6%) more than men (45.4%) and that men
(15%) save more than women (8%).
“According to the opinion survey of the relatives of migrants, 78.8% of men
that migrate make their own decisions, while among women this percentage is
slightly higher (80.4%). This reflects that women have a high decision-making
capacity with regard to their own travel,” added Mr. Lozano.
The lack of employment and the need to improve economic conditions are the
two most important causes for migrating, for both women and men.
With this survey, UN-INSTRAW and IOM aim to contribute to the global debate
on the impacts, benefits and costs of international migration.
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