effects of migration 6.7

Effects of Migration (1750 - 1900)

Gender Imbalance in Home Societies

• Major Shift: Large-scale migration led to a significant gender imbalance, with more men migrating than women.

  • Majority of migrants were men seeking employment opportunities in urban settings.

• Impact on Women: Women had to assume traditionally male roles, leading to changes in family structures.

  • Example: In South Africa, approximately 60% of households were led by women due to the absence of men.

  • Women engaged in tasks such as subsistence farming, previously done by men (e.g., breaking ground, tending livestock).

• Financial Independence: Women gained opportunities to sell excess produce and gain financial independence.

  • Popular saying among women: "What is man? I have my own money."

Creation of Ethnic Enclaves

• Definition: Ethnic enclaves are geographic areas with a high concentration of the same ethnicity within a foreign culture.

• Urban Concentration: Migration led to the growth of ethnic enclaves in major urban areas, especially in the Western Hemisphere.

  • Cultural Preservation: Enclaves allowed migrants to maintain their language, religion, and food traditions.

  • Example: Indian migrants in Mauritius and Natal practiced Hinduism and Islam in their enclaves.

  • Cultural Diffusion: The presence of these enclaves influenced the receiving societies, introducing new cultural elements.

  • Example 1: Irish enclaves in the Eastern US contributed to the growth of Catholicism in a predominantly Protestant society.

  • Example 2: Chinese enclaves in Southeast Asia became crucial in colonial economies.

Nativism and Resistance to Immigration

• Definition: Nativism involves protecting the interests of native-born people over immigrants, often fueled by ethnic and racial prejudice.

• Negative Perceptions & Marginalization: Despite immigrants filling low-wage jobs, they faced societal resistance and discrimination.

  • Example: The Irish were treated as a lower race in the US, experiencing political and social marginalization.

  • Nativism defined Irish Americans as "not white," justifying their exclusion.

Government Policies in Response to Nativism

• Chinese Exclusion Act (US): Limited Chinese immigration due to rising nativism and anti-Chinese riots in the 1870s and 1880s.

  • Chinese labor was essential for US railroads, but backlash led to violence and legislative action.

• White Australia Policy: Introduced by the British government to restrict immigration from Asia, aiming to maintain a white Australian society.

  • Similar concerns about maintaining racial and cultural identity were prominent in Australia, mirroring sentiments in the US.