Identity as a Tool: the Venezuelan Migration Crisis in Aruba

Abstract

This research aims to illustrate the influence of the cultural gender-based script of marianismo within the narratives of experiences of female Venezuelan irregular migrants who have migrated to Aruba between 2014 and 2020. In addition, it seeks to answer the question why and how mariansimo is performed in the context of irregular migration to Aruba. Female Venezuelan irregular migrants in Aruba are subjected to violence and discrimination on the basis of their perceived characteristics and illegality. This research aims to conclude what role the cultural gender-based script of marianismo plays in these processes of assimilation to host-country dynamics. In doing so, it explores the fields of social constructivist theory, gender theory, international migration theory and intersectionality theory to determine which concepts and framework best analyse the influence of marianismo on the identity of female Venezuelan irregular migrants after migrating to Aruba. Through in-depth interviews with female Venezuelan irregular migrants, as well as a literature study on the aforementioned theoretical fields and the analysis of a dataset as provided by Fundacion Pa Hende Muhe Den Dificultad, the Women’s Shelter in Aruba, it is concluded that female Venezuelan irregular migrants perform the cultural gender-based script of mariansimo out of necessity, rather than out of personal preference or out of habit. The interviews suggest that female Venezuelan irregular migrants perform marianismo to generate employment opportunities that provide an income for irregular migrants. In addition, the hypersexualisation of female Venezuelan migrants adds another dimension to the script of marianismo, in that women are sexualised due to the excessive pronunciation of the national beauty image in Venezuela, stemming from beauty pageants in popular culture. Female Venezuelan migrants have found room to manoeuvre within these cultural gender-based scripts in order to engage in alternative fields of work, such as prostitution. A negative consequence of this is that Venezuelan women in Aruba are discriminated against in terms of language, cultural attributes and sexualisation. Their engagement in illegal prostitution expedites discrimination. In addition, international organisations aim to provide support for these migrants in times of irregular migration; however, fail to understand the normalisation of violence within Venezuelan culture. Local, community-based initiatives on the basis of religion are seen as helpful tools for these women to provide in their primary needs. It is illustrated that this support relies on trust embedded in sharing the same cultural values.