Introduction

During recent decades, migration has become one of the most significant social forces influencing the labour market, and ‘skilled migration is rapidly becoming one of the major components of migration streams in many parts of the world’ (Raghuram, 2004, p 163; see also Guibernau and Rex, 1997). There are, however, few studies that focus on the migration of high-status professionals – for example, lawyers, scientists, physicians. The dearth of research on this group might be related to the assumed unproblematic character of this kind of migration. Migration of highly skilled professionals is welcomed and has been facilitated and encouraged by governments in developed countries. Migrating professionals ‘have been absorbed into the labour market to such an extent that they become virtually invisible and are rarely the subject of public debate’ (Ryan, 2005, p 384). Nevertheless, the scope and the directions of this kind of migration are worth exploring (see also Ribeiro, this volume). Studies indicate that the migration of highly skilled workers has a pattern quite different from that of unskilled workers (Guibernau and Rex, 1997). Hence, research on the migration of professionals may contribute significantly to both the sociology of professions and theories of international migration.

Research on transnational migration tends to examine migrating men and does not address the gender dynamics of this transnational process (Raghuram, 2004; Budani, 2005; Ryan, 2005). Studies that include women or focus on female emigrants’ experiences tend to examine mainly family-related issues – for example, childcare and cultivation of ties with relatives left behind (Ryan, 2005) – rather than women's endeavours in the professions.

The past dominant neo-Weberian approach in research on professions has emphasised professional unity and professions as national professional projects (Leicht and Fennell, 2001). Evetts (1999) has noted that within-state theorising has therefore dominated sociological research on professions. Nevertheless, members of professions like medicine are increasingly internationally mobile, and both enlargement of and the harmonisation of regulations within the European Union (EU) have facilitated a free movement of professionals within the EU. Yet, most studies on the migration of physicians have looked at the mobility of physicians from developing countries – for example, Africa or Asia – to richer Western societies (for instance, Astor et al, 2005; Hagopian et al, 2005), and only a few have looked at the migration of women physicians (for instance, Harrison, 1998).