The Politics of Women’s Migration in Jamaica Kincaid’s Lucy

Abstract

Purpose: This research explores how women in Lucy migrate from their former location to a new one to overcome trauma and better their lives but instead in their new environment they experience suppression and undergo worse situations than their former place.

Methodology: Qualitative research was used to write this paper since it involves textual analysis, so the research design is explanatory and the data is presented in running text. Information of this research paper was gathered from the primary source (Lucy) and secondary sources (Global Woman: Nannies, Maids and Sex Workers in the New Economy, Women who Go and Women Who Stay: Reflections of Family Migration Processes in a Changing World, The Role of Female Migration in Development Towards a Transnational Perspective on Migration: Race, Class, Ethnicity and Nationalism Reconsidered, Women in Movement: Feminism and Social Action, International Migration: The Female Experience and Situation and Role of Migrant Women: Specific Adaptation and Integration Problems). Feminism was deemed a suitable theory on which this research paper could be hitched, in order to show how informal international migration causes underdevelopment in the country of origin and poor standard of living in the new environment.

Findings: It is realized that the informal international migration of Kincaid’s protagonist and intra-national migration of other characters in Lucy fail to bear any good fruit, instead Lucy is nostalgic and she becomes wayward in her new environment. The other characters are not also happy in their new environment despite the fact that feminists condemn violence against women perpetuated by patriarchy and sexism in any place in which women find themselves.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and: This research will make people to understand that international migration without the notice of the government of both countries involved is not mostly fruitful. Since there is a reason (fate) for one to originate from a particular country, one needs to grow and work in it. Intra-national migration can be encouraged for those who wish to change environment. This study will also deepen discussion in the field of feminism and post-colonialism. In the theory of feminism this research will help feminists to understand better that women and men are unique, they complement each other. There are some tasks that women cannot do and succeed like men. In Lucy, Lewis is happy in the end after migrating whereas Maria and Lucy are not. As for the theory of post-colonialism, it would help postcolonial critics to dwell more on the present situation in the postcolonial societies rather than the past. Readers of this article will help familiarize it to leaders of the world to make their environments more comfortable for their citizens, so that informal international migration can easily be stopped. Their citizens will greatly contribute in the development of their countries and the emigrants would be at peace at home because it is very difficult for one to be genuinely accepted in a foreign environment.