Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explore the tension between the transnational mobility
of skilled women migrants and their rootedness in place when it comes to childrearing.
On the basis of my research on skilled Polish migrants in the United Kingdom,
I investigate if and how family planning decisions influence their international migration
trajectories. The paper suggests ways in which to improve existing migration and
labor market policies in order to encourage migrant women’s labor market participation.
It also fills in the gap in migration literature concerning the interaction between
the productive and reproductive spheres.
My findings suggest that the comparative advantages and disadvantages of having
children in Poland versus in the UK are important factors influencing the mobility
of skilled migrant women.. A primary consideration pulling these women back to
Poland is the availability of childcare help from the family. The UK, on the other
hand, is an attractive location because of the child-friendly provisions offered by most
employers. Emotional attachment to home and family tends to tip the scales towards
returning to Poland. The reproductive choices made by skilled migrant women, frequently
on the basis of emotional and not ‘rational’ calculations, are directly linked
to the free movement of people in the European Union Market to.
