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Migration and the Gendered Origin of Migrant Networks among Couples in Mexico
Mathew J Creighton1, Fernando Riosmena
1Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Departament de Ciències Polítiques i Socials.
Objectives:
We investigate how the matrilineal vs. patrilineal origin of Mexican couples' migrant networks are associated with the aspirations to migrate and the subsequent migration behavior of each spouse.
Methods:
Using longitudinal data from the Mexican Family Life Survey (2002-2005) on 3,923 married couples across 139 municipalities; we estimate multi-level logistic regressions predicting aspirations to migrate to the United States for each spouse and the subsequent migration behavior of the couple in the inter-wave period.
Results:
The networks of both ego and spouse are associated with U.S. migration aspirations although they matter more for the person from which they originate. Only matrilineal networks predicted a subsequent move to the U.S. for men and women/couples, who were assessed jointly.
Conclusion:
Matrilineal networks are instrumental in the migration process, particularly of the couple. As such, they could prove instrumental in helping understand the migration motivations and dynamics of individuals and families.
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