Migração e trabalho feminino: trajetórias de mulheres de Governador Valadares e sua microrregião que migraram para os Estados Unidos e Portugal

Abstract

This study analyzes the trajectories of six working women from Governador Valadares and its microregion who migrated to the United States and Portugal, articulating migration and women’s work within a context marked by international emigration. The research is based on the recognition of women’s significant participation in these flows and on the existing gap in the field of Administration regarding the understanding of their personal and professional experiences. The objective is to investigate the profiles, motivations, and labor experiences of these women, seeking to understand processes of labor market insertion and reintegration, as well as the impacts of migration on their lives. The study is characterized as basic research, with a qualitative approach and exploratory and descriptive objectives, developed through a literature review and fieldwork. Data collection included an online form for sociodemographic profiling and semi-structured interviews with immigrant women and return migrants, selected using the snowball sampling method. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis techniques. The results indicate that the migratory trajectories of the interviewed women are shaped by factors such as social support networks, language, and documentation, revealing differences between destinations in terms of labor market insertion, working conditions, migratory regularization, and professional mobility. It is concluded that the migratory experience has an ambivalent impact, as it expands human capital and autonomy while also reproducing inequalities and precariousness. In the field of Administration, the study highlights key aspects of women’s work, including labor relations, power dynamics, possibilities of professional reintegration upon return to the country of origin, and entrepreneurial initiatives.