How did the pre-existing gender division of labor and gender-specific state policies affect Saudi women workers in their demand for equal opportunities and fair treatment ? What are some of the factors involved in the disempowerment of migrant workers in host countries and what happens when these workers begin to demand their rights? Given global economic restructuring and the changing international division of labor, regions such as the Middle East have become favored destinations for migrant workers. many migrant workers from sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. While previous studies focused on male-dominated migration patterns, current studies report the growing presence of women among migrant workers, particularly in the Gulf region (Martin Baldwin). In “Domestic Workers: Little Protection for the Underpaid,” Gloria Chammartin argues that the number of migrant women has become equal to or greater than that of men in recent years. Female migrant workers now make up a larger percentage of migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. (470) For example, data show that more than 90 percent of Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were women in 1997-1998. In 2001, between 85 and 94 percent of Sri Lankan workers in Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon were women. The increase in international demand for labor in this region is mainly attributed to the oil boom of the 1970s. The oil boom of the 1970s created a demand for both skilled and unskilled labor in the region. Gulf. In its early days, labor demands in the construction industry were met primarily by male workers. (Munira Ismail) Later, while the construction project... middle of article....... 49, March: 1-20. Gender issues in the governance of labor migration: The importance of considering gender issues in migration. International Migration Branch. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/migrant/areas/gender.htmMartin Baldwin-Edwards. “Migrations in the Middle East and the Mediterranean”. http://mmo.gr/pdf/news/Migration_in_the_Middle_East_and_Mediterranean.pdfhttp://www.asianews.it/news-en/Christian-Filipino-migrants-forced-to-convert-to-Islam-17478.htmlhttp:// www.asianews.it/news-en/Saudi-Arabia-to-drive-out-all-Indonesian-migrants-21994.html “Conditions of Overseas Filipino Workers in Saudi Arabia.” » http://www.scribd.com /doc/49819988/The-Conditions-of-Overseas-Filipino-Workers-in-Saudi-Arabiahttp://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Womens_Employment_in_Saudi_Arabia.pdfhttp:/ /www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/25/arabie-aoudite-migrants-maltraitance