Who is faring better? Who is feeling better? Gender differences in labor market outcomes and perceived social mobility among Asian immigrants in the United States.

Abstract

Gender is an important factor throughout the immigration process---not only as part of the immigration experience itself but also because the costs and benefits associated with immigration differ between women and men. In this dissertation, I investigate gender differences in reasons for immigration, and in their associated consequences for labor market outcomes and perceived social mobility for three Asian immigrant groups, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese. I use survey data from the 2004 National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). My analyses consist of three parts: (1) I examine gender differences in reasons for immigration within and across Asian ethnic groups, (2) I estimate the effects of reasons for immigration on labor market outcomes and perceived social mobility, and (3) I evaluate the extent to which the estimated effects of reasons for immigration vary by gender, ethnicity, and education. I find that not only reasons for immigration but also their associated consequences differ greatly by gender and ethnicity. The associations between one reason for immigration (i.e., migrating to join other family members) and economic well-being also vary by level of education. Support from a family network provides a strong explanation for the positive association of migrating to join other family members with labor market outcomes for less-educated Asian immigrant men, and the positive association of migrating for family reunification with perceived social mobility for less-educated Asian immigrant women. Highly-educated Asian immigrant women (but not highly-educated Asian immigrant men) who migrated to join other family members are more likely to experience institution/policy barriers and perceive greater downward social mobility among Chinese and Filipinas, in particular. The lack of such an effect on highly-educated Asian immigrant men is inconsistent with results reported in ethnographic studies. The study has implications for designing effective social service programs for Asian immigrants and further examining government policies related to immigrants and immigration. I conclude that more attention needs to be devoted to the different immigration paths and special circumstances experienced by women. Policies and programs should be designed to both promote women's education and employment opportunities and to increase their access to family services.