Migration: A Triangle of Aspiration, Opportunity or Exploitation? A Migrant’s Perspective
Migration: A Triangle of Aspiration, Opportunity or Exploitation? A Migrant’s Perspective

Author(s): Shweta Sinha Deshpande, Aashna Banerjee
Subject(s): Sociology, Migration Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: aspirations; lived experience; positive exploitation;
Summary/Abstract: The number of international migrants worldwide has continued to grow rapidly over the past decade. Nevertheless, migration leads to controversial conversations within multiple spheres. Therefore, there is a need to explore a perspective on migration-of migrants themselves. This paper aims to situate 25 case studies on migration within interlinked realities of exploitation in the habitus, migrant aspirations, and opportunities provided by the experience of migration; against the backdrop of migrant agency. Analysis of the data collected indicated that migration offers opportunities to avoid and escape socio-economic traps, achieve aspirations and a higher level of well-being; the interactions between entities in the process of migration can be positively exploitative; and that negative lived experiences of the present are overlooked by migrants due to their aspiration of a better future. Most importantly, the authors emphasize that migration is a tool and a strategy which can be used to overcome structural inequalities and build capabilities.

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