migrants, and the percentages of those who moved more than 100 kilo metres, it can be concluded that in rural West Java a relatively long distance permanent movement is significant.
4.2.2 Characteristics and backgrounds of migrants
Although there is a wide range of characteristics and backgrounds of migrants, some are more important for consideration than others. In this study the characteristics and backgrounds which will be considered are: age-sex differential, education, occupation, marital status, and persons who accompanied migrants.
4.2.2.1 Age-sex differential
Some explanation of the age-sex differential of migrants can be derived from considering life cycle phases of individuals. Lee, in his hypotheses (as was pointed out in Section 2.1) states that migration is selective and certain stages of the life cycle are important in the selection of migrants. Many studies have proved that young age groups are more migratory than other age groups. In various countries, for instance, it has been tested as to whether persons in young adult ages, 20-34, are more prone to migrate than other age groups (Jansen, 1970:14). To what extent do age and sex factors operate in the selection of inter-rural migrants in the study area? The findings from the survey villages show that a major part of the first and second move inter-rural migrants is from the 10-29 year age group at the time of movement (Appendices O and 0.1). Respectively, 67.4 per cent of the first move migrants and 68.8 per cent of the second move migrants are in the 10-29 year age group. On the other hand, this age group had only 34.9 per cent of the total population in rural West Java in 1971 (Indonesia, 1974a). In general, the first and second move migrants are younger than the general population. Apparently this evidence is in agree ment with the general belief in the migration field. It should be mentioned that in this respect the age distribution of total popula
tion is crucial. The supposed age selectivity of migrants may also be merely a reflection of age structure of the population in the area concerned.
In this study, another age group which draws attention is the 0-9 year age group for which the findings of the first move migrants exhibit the frequency of 15.7 per cent. Movements of this group of migrants may be merely as a consequence of their life cycle phase. Perhaps they follow their parents or their relatives to the place of destination or they are sent by them for educational purposes. The figures on the sex ratio of the first move as well as of the second move give some evidence that inter-rural migration is also selective by sex (Appendices P and P.l). Respectively, for first and second moves, the number of males is about 2.0 and 3.4 times the number of females. This fact can be understood because in rural West Java as in other parts of Indonesia, females are not as free as males. This is rather different to the situation in western countries today. Social norms of communities in West Java to some extent prevent females from moving alone. In rural areas, usually, the social norms allow their permanent movement in rela tion to marriage and joining relatives.
4.2.2.2 Education
The education level of migrants has drawn the attention of many demographers. For instance, migration and education in Jakarta has been studied in the context of rural-urban space migra tion in Indonesia as was mentioned in Chapter 1. The education level of individuals may have an important impact on the different aspects of their decisions such as on their decision to migrate and on the selection of the destination area. Those who have a
hence they may pursue better opportunities than they have in the origin area.- Perhaps certain work opportunities attract people of certain types and levels of education besides the fact that certain opportunities may only be open to those who hold certain types and levels of education. On the other hand, people may move to pursue certain types and levels of education which are not available in their origin area. This brief discussion shows that the aspect of education is important to population mobility; however, this com plicated relationship is not examined here - rather the macro perspective of migrants' educational status is scrutinized.
The findings of this study indicate that the majority of the first move migrants and around one-half of the second move migrants attain the level of primary school education (Table 4.5 and Appendix Q).
The migrants who have an education level of junior high school or over are relatively insignificant. However, around one- fifth of the first move and the second move migrants of 10 years of age and over have no schooling. The facts regarding the education levels of the migrants are not surprising as the education levels of the population in West Java, particularly in rural areas, are relatively low. Nevertheless, education levels of the migrants are rather higher than those of the general population (see Section 3.7).
4.2.2.3 Occupations
Basically, the findings from the survey villages indicate that there are two groups of inter-rural migrants, namely,
TABLE 4.5
WEST JAVA SURVEY VILLAGES: FIRST MOVE INTER-RURAL MIGRATION -