I. Introduction
A. The object of study is to analyze the experiences of undocumented women through an intersectional lens. It is important in understanding the limitations of sanctuary cities and the unique experiences these women face in comparison to other populations.
B. Thesis statement: Despite the rise of sanctuary cities and their promise for inclusivity and protection, undocumented women continue to face exclusion in urban spaces and limited access to urban rights due to their marginalized position in society.
C. As evidence, I will draw on feminist theorists and empirical data from participant observations and interviews. I will also use numerical data giving background information on the demographics of undocumented women.
II. Background/Context
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Theoretical Information: The theory of intersectionality is the idea that multiple aspects of an individual's social identity (race/ethnicity, class, legal status, gender, age, sexual identity, nationality, etc.) when intersecting can function to oppress an individual (Crenshaw 1989).
III. Literature Review
A. The literature on migration describes it as a gendered process whereby women’s initial decision to migrate is either influenced by or restricted by patriarchal factors. This literature is useful in understanding how perceptions of gender can influence migration and mobility, but is limited when ignoring the implications of an undocumented status once they in the U.S.
B. The literature on access to urban spaces says that activities such as street food vending increase claims to “urban citizenship,” however; policing threatens this claim of belongingness and restricts mobility when threats of deportation exist (Bhimji 2010). This literature is useful in understanding how policing contributes to the exclusion of undocumented women in public spaces, but is limited in undermining the role of
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I am going to use Adams and Campbell’s (2002) feminist theory of intersectionality to show the role that gender, race, and other social identities play in relation to legal status when thinking about access to urban space/rights. This is an analytical perspective that current literature lacks.
IV. Evidence and Analysis
A. Access to Public Space
-Evidence: Undocumented women who are street vendors are limited in use of public space due to absent permits and increased policing. It is primarily women with children who work in these informal economies to provide for their family (Bhimji 2010).
-Legislation that prohibits undocumented immigrants in many states from obtaining driver’s licenses in addition to the threat of racial profiling that occurs in routine traffic stops for people of color function to regulate and limit mobility of individuals (Johnson 2004).
-Analysis: Implication of “right to the city” and “urban citizenship” attained through participation in public life are threatened. The intersecting identities at play in this section include gender, motherhood status, race, and immigration status.
B. Workforce/Exploitation and Harassment
-Evidence: Women earn 77 cents to the dollar compared to men; women of color experience a “double wage gap” and undocumented women earn 71 cents to the dollar (Kerby
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Yee, V., Davis, K., & Patel, J. (2017, March 06). Here’s the Reality About Illegal Immigrants in the United States. Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/06/us/politics/undocumented-illegal-immigrants.html
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