NewsWhore
08-14-2008, 03:50 PM
There are 130,000 Dominicans living in Spain, of which 80,000 are there legally, 30,000 are naturalized and only 20,000 are of illegal status, according to Dr. Bernarda Jimenez and Pedro Alvarez, directors at the Spanish Volunteer Mothers Group (VOMADE), as reported in Hoy. This year, Bernarda Jimenez recently was elected the first emigrant to become a member of the ruling PSOE political party's board. Jimenez visited to accompany Vice President Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega.
According to the directors, women make up 66% of the Dominican immigrant population in Spain, while 34% are men. Alvarez explained that many years ago, Dominican migrant population was 90% women, and most worked as household help. Alvarez, who is projects coordinator, says Dominicans have taken new jobs, even though a majority of them still work as domestic workers. He added that the initial wave of Dominican immigrants had a great influence on musical tastes, dress, and the food preferences of many Spaniards.
Accordingly, only 22% of Dominicans in Spain have degrees, specifically in dentistry. Jimenez says that only 6% of Dominican women in Spain are prostitutes and explains that it is denigrating to Dominican women to be considered as such. She explained that many Dominican women have lost their jobs as maids because their husbands would ignore the time difference and call the home of their employers at 2 or 5am to check on their wives.
But Alvarez notes that when waves of Dominican men began to arrive, the Spanish perception towards Dominicans changed. Unfortunately many were involved in crime. He adds that drug mules are increasing at an alarming rate, which has forced authorities to increase surveillance on Dominican travelers. Because of this VOMADE has announced a new ad campaign to warn people of the dangers of working as drug mules. Jimenez says that despite the crime issues, overall Dominican migration has been positive.
Jimenez adds that Dominicans don't lose their ties to the country and would prefer to live in the DR. Nevertheless, she complained that Dominicans in Spain seem to be only valued for the remittances they send back home, despite the heroism of their traveling abroad to help their family get out of poverty.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)
According to the directors, women make up 66% of the Dominican immigrant population in Spain, while 34% are men. Alvarez explained that many years ago, Dominican migrant population was 90% women, and most worked as household help. Alvarez, who is projects coordinator, says Dominicans have taken new jobs, even though a majority of them still work as domestic workers. He added that the initial wave of Dominican immigrants had a great influence on musical tastes, dress, and the food preferences of many Spaniards.
Accordingly, only 22% of Dominicans in Spain have degrees, specifically in dentistry. Jimenez says that only 6% of Dominican women in Spain are prostitutes and explains that it is denigrating to Dominican women to be considered as such. She explained that many Dominican women have lost their jobs as maids because their husbands would ignore the time difference and call the home of their employers at 2 or 5am to check on their wives.
But Alvarez notes that when waves of Dominican men began to arrive, the Spanish perception towards Dominicans changed. Unfortunately many were involved in crime. He adds that drug mules are increasing at an alarming rate, which has forced authorities to increase surveillance on Dominican travelers. Because of this VOMADE has announced a new ad campaign to warn people of the dangers of working as drug mules. Jimenez says that despite the crime issues, overall Dominican migration has been positive.
Jimenez adds that Dominicans don't lose their ties to the country and would prefer to live in the DR. Nevertheless, she complained that Dominicans in Spain seem to be only valued for the remittances they send back home, despite the heroism of their traveling abroad to help their family get out of poverty.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)