ABSTRACT
Filipino migration to Belgium is in essence female migration. Filipino migration takes place within a clear framework of labor distribution of tasks between men and women that partly stems from the traditional gender socialization patterns and from the demand for certain types of jobs in the international labor market. There are a number of structural factors that help in the understanding of Filipino emigration, some general and some more gender specific. Subsequently, historical, socioeconomic, sociocultural, demographic and institutional factors addressed as well as the role of networks. The level of education in the Philippines varies considerably. However, in general, the Filipinos attach a great deal of importance to education for both men and women. The residence status is an important variable that determines the course of the Filipino women's migration since they only have a few legal channels available to enter Europe.
