Building migratory trajectories

The book comparatively explores the process of migration after work of men and women from different Central American countries to southern Mexico. These labour migrants intend either to reach the United States in search of better material conditions or to find employment in the Soconusco region in the state of Chiapas, southern Mexico. The book examines the patterns of these migrants' interactions with each other and different situations they must cope with along their migratory trajectories from the moment they decide to migrate, through the traveling process, up to the moment they are in Mexico. Using the structuration model as a theoretical framework for analysis, it assesses the role of the structure-agency dynamic interaction in differentially shaping Central Americans' migratory trajectories. The book examines the role of surrounding economic and political circumstances, migrants' social networks, domestic (survival) strategies and gender during the migratory process. It will principally be of interest to students and scholars of Latin and Central American studies, immigration, transnationalism, border studies, global processes, and gender studies.

Autorentext

Carmen Fernández-Casanueva has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Essex (2006). Is now Research Fellow at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. Research interests: Integration in urban areas, transnationalism, intra-regional migratory movements, transit migration and gender. Focus on Central American migration through the southern Mexican border.