Multilevel Governance of Intersectional Inequality: A Study of Cross-Border Marriage Migration Among Women in Yunnan’s China–Laos Border Villages

This study examines how multilevel governance structures respond to intersectional inequalities in the context of cross-border marriage migration among women in the China–Laos border villages of Yunnan. Combining intersectionality theory with a multilevel governance framework, it explores how gender, class, and legal status intersect to produce compounded vulnerabilities among marriage migrants. The analysis is structured around three levels: at the micro level, it investigates how personal identities and everyday experiences intersect with livelihood pressures; at the meso level, it analyzes how local governance practices and cultural norms shape migrants’ access to resources and social recognition; and at the macro level, it considers how national policies, immigration regimes, and global dynamics influence migrants’ legal status and social positioning. The study argues that addressing these inequalities requires a multilevel governance approach—one that integrates migrant populations into local institutions, balances rights and security at the national level, and fosters international cooperation to reduce vulnerability.