Abstract
Earlier research indicated that women primarily immigrated as dependents and wives of male immigrants, and that the number of males far exceeded that of female immigrants. However, this demographic setting is no longer the reality, as current research indicates that more women are migrating, particularly for economic reasons that relate to empowering themselves. Therefore, female immigration statistics presently account for about half of the immigration population, with a few countries wherein female immigrants actually outnumber male immigrants. Furthermore, literature reveals that a major part of immigration experience is gender-related, with women enduring additional, unique adversities compared to those faced by immigrant men. This study therefore explored the experiences of self-employed immigrant women in South Africa. A Humanitarian Work Psychology approach was utilised to firstly investigate the challenges that are faced by self-employed immigrant women through an Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA) method. Secondly, an Appreciative Inquiry workshop helped these women co-construct actions to manage and overcome the challenges that they face. The main challenges identified included: discrimination, communication barriers; lack of access to social support and security services; volatile relationships; public violence; corruption and abuse by local authorities; legal documentation adversities, and barriers to personal and professional development. This study therefore has contributed to the existing body of literature on the experiences of immigrant women who are self-employed and also has empowered the participants, together with other potential readers, with strategies that can be used to transcend their challenges.