Work and Gender in the Context of Spatial Mobility and Migration: the Case of Highly Skilled Italians Abroad

Abstract Young, skilled and educated Italians have been emigrating in record numbers: About 160,000 moved abroad 2018 alone. While much of recent research focused on the economic drivers this spatial mobility, article explores highly Italians’ mobile life projects from a gender perspective. Our study was guided by following questions: How do mobility migration intersect with relations career success lives living abroad? What role does play decisions about moving staying research, which drew semistructured in-depth interviews conducted 51 university graduates, part larger determinants trends new Tuscany, region Italy. Using Strauss Corbin’s three-stage coding process to analyze interviews, we identified four core themes particular concern participants when comparing Italy contexts they encountered abroad: gender-sensitive culture workplace, strategic dialogic projects, impact state workplace policies (subjective) age vis-à-vis temporariness. results both confirmed findings previous studies prompted questions need further investigation, such as experiences (in)equality their power transform short-term into or permanent migration, dual-career couples’ normative beliefs key events.