Gendered perceptions of migration among skilled female Ghanaian nurses

Overview

Within current research on African health worker emigration, relatively few studies have explored how health workers themselves see international migration and its impact on their lives, and how gender norms influence these perceptions. This article draws on research aiming to examine these issues, conducted between June and August 2008. Ghanaian nurses’ views of migration are highly influenced by gendered notions of women prioritising family responsibilities over personal desires. However, these ideas are being called into question by the growing numbers of women who may consider migrating as skilled professionals, and attach considerable importance to their professional interests.

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