Notions of Rights and Entitlements Among Peruvian Female Workers in Chile

Migrants’ vulnerability and marginalization from mainstream society are enhanced by their labour conditions and by different forms of social stratification that capture and classify them in ways unfamiliar to them. These conditions, as well as their situation in the country of origin prior to emigration, also influence their sense of entitlement and their notion of rights. While most migrants consider they deserve to be treated with respect given ‘their human condition’, not all articulate an entitlement to human rights, and even fewer articulate an idea of rights beyond labour rights that they are (or think they are) not in a position to demand. This article discusses the diverse notions of rights held by Peruvian migrants, linking their understanding and practice to a combination of the following factors: a) their social and cultural capital; b) the length of their stay in the host society; and c) their understanding of rights vis-à-vis their country of origin and destination. By addressing the literature on human rights and citizenship, it aims to develop a more comprehensive approach to migrants’ rights. This analysis is based on research carried out in Santiago de Chile between 2008 and 2009. Fifty in-depth interviews were conducted with Peruvian women workers and conducted a survey of the organizational landscape, interviewing key civil society informants.