The issue discussed in this paper lies on the crossroads of two disciplinary fields – gender studies and migration studies. It aims to fill the gap between these two subject matters with the expectation of possible cross-fertilization of both of them.
The rationale: The mainstream research in the gender studies field ...
(Show more)The issue discussed in this paper lies on the crossroads of two disciplinary fields – gender studies and migration studies. It aims to fill the gap between these two subject matters with the expectation of possible cross-fertilization of both of them.
The rationale: The mainstream research in the gender studies field still have not integrated the topic of female brain drain and female academic migration as a specific focus of interest within the theme of ‘women and science’. On their part the female academic migration or female brain drain however is beyond the scope of the migration studies. The mainstream research in the area of brain drain issues (belonging to the broader field of migration studies) still have not inserted the gender dimension as a particular aspect for investigation.
The ENWISE report of the EC reveals that the women scientists in the Central and Eastern European countries and the Baltic States, facing difficult economic situations are inclined to accept a job below their qualification and in general to work for lesser wages, which is rarely the case with their male counterparts. This flexibility of attitude towards the labour market in fact makes them prospective emigrants. In order to understand the female brain drain we are going to ask the following questions:
- What are the specific push and pull factors that motivate highly qualified women scientists and engineers in the SEE region to emigrate?
- Are they accepting jobs under their qualifications in the host country (e.g. Austria)?
- If the female scientists are on the move, what are the effects of this nomadic stile of life on their families and children? (It is not difficult to imagine that a child who is accompanying his/her mother on the move has to grow up and bring education in several different countries with different cultural milieu and traditions. It is not difficult to imagine who will return, when the elder members of the family, who have stayed in the country of origin, need help.)
- How the problems related with the so-called ‘dual academic career’ (i.e. both partners are scientists) are managed within the academic migration process?
The proposed topic is both innovative and challenging.
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