The Lives of Undocumented Latina Migrants: An Intersectional Analysis of Gender, Nationality, and Migration Status in the United States

Life for Latin American migrants in the United States has changed significantly in the past decade. Although the US has increasingly become a difficult place for Latinx migrants to live, migrants still come to the US to fill low-paying jobs, to escape dangerous home situations, or in seeking a better life for their children. Furthermore, women are affected in unique ways which increase their vulnerability to exploitation. Through collaborative research effort, I worked with immigrant-rights organizations in the greater Orlando area to conduct participant observation (including volunteer work, an internship, and a documentary project) and in-depth interviews with Latina migrants. This research examines the intersectionality of gender, race, and migration status in the US. I investigated women’s access to resources including work, health care, and education. Related research conducted in the past has approached this topic through examining the intersection of gender and migration through examining the family unit; my research adds to the understanding of gender and migration by examining women’s experiences. In this research, I show how migrant women are vulnerable due to gendered policy, limited access to jobs, and gendered expectations in the home; I demonstrate how US immigration policy must change to address this gap in access to civil society and human rights. I further describe the ways in which undocumented Latina migrants resist their oppression. Through this analysis, I address the need for understanding the women's experiences by focusing on migration from Latin American countries to the United States, and I examine how women are affected by the intersection of race, migration status, and gender.