“It wasn’t my idea to come here!”: Ownership of the idea to immigrate as a function of gender, age, and culture

The present study investigated gender, age, and culture differences in immigrants’ ownership of the idea to immigrate to Australia. Married immigrants (N = 1702) indicated whose idea it was to immigrate: their own, their partner's, or a joint idea. Consistent with a patriarchal model, female immigrants were significantly less likely to claim ownership of the idea than male immigrants, and this difference partially mediated gender differences in post-immigration satisfaction. In addition, age and culture qualified gender differences in ownership of the idea to immigrate. Young women and nonWestern women were least likely to claim ownership of the idea. The generality of the patriarchal model across age and culture is discussed.

► Investigated immigrants’ ownership of the idea to immigrate to Australia.
► Identified gender, age, and culture differences among married migrants.
► Female immigrants are less likely than males to claim ownership of the immigration idea.
► Young women and nonWestern women were the least likely to claim ownership.
► Ownership partially mediated gender differences in post-immigration satisfaction.