Migrant women: leisure occupations in public and private spaces

Abstract

Introduction: Migration involves the displacement of people from their usual place of residence, leading to identity and adaptation challenges. In Chile, the number of migrants has increased, notably Haitian women who face discrimination and racism, affecting their mental health and occupational performance. Objective: This study analyzes the occupational performance in the leisure occupations of Haitian migrant women in the metropolitan region of Chile. Method: A phenomenological and qualitative approach with a descriptive design was employed, using semi-structured interviews for data collection. The study was conducted with three migrant women residing in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Results: The results show that in private spaces, home care and child-rearing are predominant, while leisure occupations are prioritized in public spaces. The choice of these activities is influenced by various factors such as available time, motivation, economic, climatic, and racial aspects, among others. Conclusion: Despite the importance attributed to leisure occupations, they are conditioned and hierarchized, highlighting the need to enhance facilitators like motivation to overcome identified contextual barriers. This qualitative study points out aspects that could be reconsidered for future research.