6 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MIGRATION - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

Migration can bring many advantages (improvement of quality of life, professional development or contact with other cultures) and disadvantages (language barriers, exposure to possible discrimination or difficulty in finding work).

Migration is the population movement from one place to another, given by the change of residence in search of new personal and work horizons. According to the International Organization for Migration, by 2016 there were more than 210 million migrants on the planet.

Migration can occur within the borders of the same country, or from one country to another. In the latter case, the movement of the population towards a country is called immigration.

A person can migrate from one country to another forced by circumstances of force majeure, such as natural disasters, internal displacement, nuclear events or extreme poverty. Likewise, migrations can also occur of their own free will, it all depends on the context of each individual.

You may be interested The 17 Main Types of Migration.

Advantages and disadvantages of migration

Advantage

1- Improved quality of life

Most immigrants seek an increase in standard living conditions. Living in an environment free of crime, with citizen benefits and social security, is usually a common engine to encourage the movement of the population from one country to another.

2- New personal and professional experiences

The new life scenario encourages immigrants to get the best of themselves in the personal and work environment.

When leaving their comfort zone, immigrants find themselves in the need to adopt new challenges: to be more independent, to live alone, to save, to assume new personal and professional commitments. All within the framework of growth and the accumulation of new experiences.

3- Contact with new cultures and expansion of knowledge

Traveling gives the opportunity to get to know new cultures, gastronomies, means of transport, idioms, traditions, and even overcome language barriers, if that is the case.

Living in another country opens the doors of knowledge through the autochthonous history of each nation, and even through tours of the most representative sites, museums or historical sites.

Disadvantages

4- Xenophobia and cultural barriers

Not all countries are hospitable to immigrants. On many occasions, cultures of resistance to change prevail, in which immigrants may be victims of racial discrimination or xenophobic comments, due to their country or region of origin.

5- Language Barriers

If you choose to migrate to a country with a language other than your mother tongue, it is essential to know at least the basic notions of that language.

To do this, it is best to know the elementary terms to function in society: basic phrases to make purchases, be familiar with traffic signs and, of course, fully handle greetings and expressions of courtesy.

6- Shortage of labor supply

Unemployment can represent a significant disadvantage for the immigrant, especially if they decide to live in another country without validating their academic and / or professional credentials in the country of origin.

Definitely, when living in another country, and living the experience of multiculturalism, education, cultural precepts and values ​​learned at home are put into practice.

References

1. Dogra, A. (2011). Immigration Pros and Cons. Recovered from: ibuzzle.com.
2. Gabriel, B. (2009). Migration: Advantages & Disadvantages. Leaf Group Ltd. Recovered from: peopleof.oureverydaylife.com.
3. Key Migration Terms (2017). International Organization for Migration. Geneva, Switzerland. Recovered from: iom.int.
4. Population and migration: Cause and effects of migration (2014). London, United Kingdom. Recovered from: bbc.co.uk.
5. Thompson, A. (2017). The Pros & Cons of Moving to a New Country. Colorado, USA. Recovered from: goabroad.com.