Social exclusions of a Burmese refugee woman’s migration journey in the United States

Abstract

With the rise of global migration, an increasing number of women are seeking autonomy and opportunity through movement; however, many face systemic barriers and gendered risks both during their journeys and in host countries. This article examines the structural vulnerabilities faced by migrant women by tracing the life story of Aye, a Burmese refugee who resettled in the United States (U.S.). Her migration journey reflects broader gendered dynamics in global migration. Drawing on narrative inquiry, this study highlights how exclusion from healthcare, education, employment, and legal protections shapes women’s migration experiences. It traces how Aye, despite encountering compounded constraints across migration to Malaysia and the U.S., continuously negotiated access to essential resources through self-agency. Her narrative reveals the persistence of gendered expectations within both public systems and family life, even after resettlement. The article underscores the importance of equitable access to education, work, and self-development opportunities for migrant women’s survival and autonomy. This study calls for a more grounded and policy-relevant understanding of refugee integration, one that recognizes equitable access as both a lived necessity and a transformative right for migrant women.

Keywords

Migrant women / Gendered migration / Structural vulnerability / Equitable access / Self-agency

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