Social inclusion from a gender perspective
In a globalized world, societies are constantly changing, only recently has attention been paid to the migration of women and, consequently, to their social inclusion. However, this whole process is very difficult and complex. Often the role of women is not recognized, although they assume active and participatory roles for the economy of the countries of origin and the receiving countries. As Miranda (2009) states, their status is not recognized "due to the fact that women often have to perform precarious jobs, which do not require qualifications, invisible jobs because, taking place in the private sphere, they are little valued and of low social status" (p. 27).
Gender equality is recognized as a human right and an end in itself, as well as a means to achieve all SDG 5 (achieve gender equality) and its goals, and it is also present in the remaining SDGs. To make this possible, the author González highlights the need to "integrate gender into policies and programs and allocate resources that match the ambitions set at a global level, is therefore central to ensuring that working together with partner countries and other actors is effective and contributes to advancing the SDGs" (González, 2021, p. 8).
Professionals must analyze their own stereotypes, reflect on the way in which their cultural references participate in the interpretation of the needs of the women they work with, their difficulties and even their abilities. It is important to understand the heterogeneity of the social category of "woman" and realize that the axes of power-subordination that different women experience, place them in different (dis)advantageous situations. As Brown (1992) refers “all women do not have the same gender” (p. 300), and this assumes particular relevance in the analysis of the situation of immigrant women.
In the same sense, it is important to highlight an intersectional and inclusive approach, where the overlapping of discriminations based on age, ethnicity, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity or functional diversity, among others, is an essential element of the work and for building a feminist and critical vision to contribute to a real transformation. The socio-educational intervention with immigrant women must consider the specificity of women and the challenges, considering issues related to their family responsibilities and the resulting challenges of conciliation between work and family life, labor precariousness, gender violence to which they are subjected, among others.
In order to promote a socio-educational intervention with immigrant women, which is sensitive to gender, it is necessary to reflect on the culturally defined concepts that underlie the interpretation of gender roles.
We conclude that for the social inclusion of women to become a reality, national and international policies are necessary, translated into actions that effectively contribute to social transformation in gender terms, thus contributing to sustainable development and to a fairer, more cohesive, more democratic and inclusive society.