36
Research: Gender Impacts Intention to Migrate
Lacking hope for a successful future, eighty percent of young 
adults in Central America decide at an early age to migrate, 
seeing no other viable options for transitioning into adulthood 
after finishing school. According to CARA research shared at 
the 2024 Migration Conference this summer, this belief is 
shared similarly across gender yet differs as women and men 
have different views on what a good future means.
Hosted by Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico, the 
Migration Conference is an academic forum for international 
researchers, scholars, and policymakers. Pulte Senior 
Researcher Estela Rivero, co-director of CARA and expert on 
the issue of gender in migration, spoke at the event’s Gender 
and Migration roundtable. She presented statistics from a 
study conducted on children, young adults, and adults in 
Honduras and El Salvador, focusing on gender differences 
affecting migration plans. This research is crucial in analyzing 
the fastest growing group of migrants—women—and is one 
of the few projects exploring gender as a critical variable in 
migration issues in Central America. The study revealed the 
and disseminating their findings widely, CARA stands at the 
forefront of promoting stability and opportunity across 
the region.
intention to migrate is influenced by individual perceptions of 
how promising a future is in any given country. This correlates 
with feelings of belonging, especially for women. From as young 
as 11 years old, six out of 10 have already decided they want 
to migrate, with that number growing as women age. 
“What can we do to make them feel like they have a 
home in their own country?” Rivero asked. 
She emphasized the importance of stability and creating 
opportunities for hope in Central America. By understanding 
the nuanced needs and aspirations of individuals, particularly 
those who feel compelled to leave their homes, Rivero believes 
environments can be fostered where people see a promising 
future in their communities. The next phase of study will 
explore what enables those most likely to migrate to envision 
that hopeful future. CARA researchers plan to collect drawings 
made by about 10,000 young people between 11 and 16 in El 
Salvador and Honduras to begin identifying those factors.
Migration and Resettlement
CARA: Engaging Communities 
Through Research and Collaboration
The Central America Research Alliance (CARA) informs 
policies and initiatives through research on the root causes 
of migration—poverty, violence, climate change and 
related human rights issues—across El Salvador, Honduras, 
Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua. Multiple factors, 
including gender, gang violence, and corruption, influence these 
systemic challenges, making thorough research essential. 
Research in this and other important issues, however, is of little 
use if it is not communicated to activists, policymakers, donors, 
and other actors who can use it to advocate and plan for 
improved living conditions. 
That is why, through deep collaboration with  local partners, 
CARA plays a vital role in creating spaces to discuss academic 
freedom and advocating on behalf of safe environments for 
research. And by advocating for inclusive research practices 
34 | Migration and Resettlement
The Pulte Institute for Global Development
Estela Rivero appears with CARA members on Honduras news program, Frente a Frente.
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