Female migration to Taipei: process and adaptation.
Women form an increasing proportion of migrants and of the non-agricultural labor force in Taiwan.  However, many questions regarding female migration in Taiwan have remained unanswered since the focus of the migration literature in the past has been on male migration.  This paper examines the decision process of rural-urban migration and adaptation of rural female migrants to the Taipei metropolis.  The analysis is based on interviews of 96 female migrants who have moved to Taipei from villages.  The reasons for migration are severalfold.  With rapid expansion of employment in the manufacturing and urban service sectors, women are attracted to urban occupations, most of which require unskilled labor.  Migrants are also motivated by psycho-social reasons.  The "glamour" and "convenience" of city and greater chances for further education through work-study programs are all perceived by migrants to provide alternatives to hard and unrewarding farm lives.  Though the initiative and final decision to move come from the migrants themselves, most only do so, however, with the consent and advice of their parents.  The choice of moving to Taipei, rather than some other city, is mainly influenced by friends or relatives who are alrady there.  Their initial jobs and accommodations are arranged by friends and relatives.  The majority of women are employed in unskilled or semi-skilled occupations.  Even though they change jobs frequently in order to find better employment terms and pay, they experience limited upward mobility.  Homesickness, unfamiliarity with the city environment, limited resoureces, and social lives are major problems for the rural female.  Freequent home vistits are made in between jobs to relieve themselves of homesickness and the pressures of city life.  Once settled, they do not segreate themselves by village origin in their occupation or palces of residence in the city, but they have a tendency to interact socially with other migrants of rural origin rather than city people.
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D001208:Asia; D001519:Behavior; D002681:China; D003657:Decision Making; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004651:Employment; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009042:Motivation; D011153:Population; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011584:Psychology; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D014171:Transients and Migrants
Asia; Behavior; China; Decision Making; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Eastern Asia; Employment Status; Friends And Relatives; Knowledge Sources; Migrants--women; Migration--women; Motivation; Occupational Status; Population; Population Dynamics; Psychological Factors; Rural-urban Migration--women; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Taiwan