The gendered desire to become cosmopolitan: South Korean women's motivations for migration to the UK

SynopsisThis paper explores the reasons for women's migration from Korea to the UK. It is difficult to explain away this migration with the common rationales, such as a gendered international division of labour or a strong political/colonial relationship between two countries. This study proposes a gendered desire approach to understand young women's migration: rather than a single motivating factor such as an economic purpose, the desire for new way of life–including the expectation of better social circumstances as well as realistic needs for future careers–triggers women's migration. I will look at individual migrant women's life stories, applying the biographical approach within the framework of gendered desire. Their memories of family, school life, and work show how the Korean social atmosphere emphasises becoming a “global citizen” influences these women's migration in a gendered way.