Punjabi women in Italy: the negotiations and ambiguities of gender relations in diaspora

Migration from Punjab to Italy became increasingly visible in the post-independence period. Initially male-dominated, this flow later included women through family reunification, though some also migrated independently as pioneers. This chapter examines the gendered dynamics of India and Punjabi migration in particular, highlighting both traditional patterns and evolving roles. Indian women in Italy face multiple layers of discrimination: limited access to regulated formal employment, subjugation within patriarchal religious structures, and vulnerability to exploitation, particularly in the agricultural sector, where irregular employment often leads to harassment and abuse by both Italian intermediaries (caporali) and Indian men. While Sikhism promotes gender equality, in practice, religious life in the diaspora often reflects a rigid division of labour. Men occupy visible roles, while women are largely confined to caregiving and supportive tasks, reinforcing a gender hierarchy even in migration. Among second-generation Punjabi Sikhs, gendered practices also shape transnational marriage arrangements. Legal status in Italy becomes a form of dowry, with families engaging in transnational hypergamy to negotiate social mobility and citizenship across borders.