Prof. Jean Encinas-Franco published a book chapter entitled, “Gendered state interests and marriage migration policies: The Philippines and South Korea” in The Routledge International Handbook of Transnational Studies.
The abstract reads:
This chapter analyzes marriage migration from the Philippines to South Korea and argues that the gendered interests of the sending and receiving states affect the management of international marriages. Drawing on field visits, policy analysis, participant observations, and interviews, this chapter finds that the Philippine government’s marriage migration policies, management practices, bride seminars, and surveillance feminize marriage migrants’ roles in Korea as good “mothers” and “daughters-in-law.” While such policies intend to “protect” migrant women, they tend to relegate them to traditional familial roles that may put them at a further disadvantage in the host state, especially when they are subjected to abuse and violence by their husbands. Moreover, it tends to sideline women’s ability to make choices upon arriving in Korea. The study advances the scant literature on the sending state and its relations with the receiving state in managing marriage migration.
This chapter provides a feminist critique of marriage migration and state relations using the Filipino marriage migration corridor to South Korea (hereinafter referred to as Korea) as a case study. It empirically shows how the gendered interests of both the sending and receiving states induce cooperation, thereby shaping the management of marriage migrants. Gendered interests in this context refer to societal norms shaping state interests. When translated into policies, practices, and programs, gendered interests do not necessarily result in better outcomes for women, who comprise most of the marriage migrants in this chapter.
Access the chapter here: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003329978-12/gendered-state-interests-marriage-migration-policies-jean-encinas-franco?context=ubx&refId=9cc4be40-8864-4d8d-b108-1db79b713df0