Introduction

The focus of this chapter is the post-1991 production of research in Slovenia in the field of migration in general and integration of migrant women in particular. The structure follows the main historical trajectory that profoundly affected the development of theoretical and empirical research on migration in Slovenia. Even though many studies deal with migration processes in general, there is a visible absence of gendered research, as well as a lack of focus on integration processes. Similarly, there is very little reference to labour market issues, and no research about where migrants, particularly migrant women, work.

Slovenia is marked by a lack of comprehensive and timely data on the number of women migrants and on the discrimination they may encounter or violence they may suffer (However, see Pajnik, Kogovšek and Zupanc (2006), Pajnik, Bajt and Zupanc [2006], Ayres and Barber [2006] or Cukut and Černič Istenič [2007] for notable recent exceptions). Such information could facilitate the formulation of appropriate policies and provide hard data to advocate female migrant workers' rights. Better understanding is needed of the characteristics of women's migration for work and their economic and social contributions to both sending and receiving countries, including the scale, use and impact of remittances and savings and the expenditure patterns of women migrants (UNPFA 2006). Using gender as an analytical category forces us to rethink the artificial separation between male/female, private/public, and production/reproduction.