This study examines gendered migration patterns in Mwanza City, Tanzania,
as well as the impacts of differentials of men’s and women’s migration on their
absorption in the urban informal sector, access to assets, adaptation to city life
and their livelihood, and also their role in the development of areas of origin.
The study employed a combination of participatory appraisal methods, crosssectional
and causal comparative research design. Findings show that for
temporary marginal men migrants, reasons to move are strongly associated
with ‘push’ factors rather than ‘pull’ factors. By contrast, women’s decisions to
move are greatly determined by personal/family issues and situations. The
findings also show that social networks play a key role in men’s and women’s
migration. The main recommendation is that the government, and society in
general, should condone female migration as it sometimes empowers them even
more than males.