NO COUNTRY FOR YOUNG AFRICAN WOMEN: GENDER DIMENSIONS IN ASYLUM SEEKERS’ WOMEN NARRATIVES

Introduction: Among the generable category of asylum seekers and refugees, women and minors have to be considered as vulnerable populations by virtue of their susceptibility to sexual and gender-based violence and of their specific needs (UNHCR, 2017). Studies focused on women as forced migrants have mainly looked at their higher exposure to sexual violence (Bradley & Tawfiq, 2006; Rogstad & Dale, 2004; Boersma, 2003) as well as on their higher risk, compared to men, to develop post-traumatic stress disorders (Breslau & Anthony, 2007; Tolin & Foa, 2006), somatic symptoms or emotional outbursts (Renner & Salem, 2009) as consequence of traumatic events. However, although the displacement phenomenon, in its current serious state, is relatively recent and the international literature on asylum seekers and refugees is wide, research on vulnerable populations, especially on women, is still underdeveloped and need to be increased (Keygnaert et al., 2014; Kalt et al., 2013). Method: The present study aimed to explore the meanings that asylum-seekers women attribute to their migratory experiences. 10 Nigerian asylum seekers women (mean age 25), hosted in an Extraordinary Reception Centre were met. Semi-structured interviews based on the whole migratory experience were administered and analysed according to the principles of the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology (Smith & Osborn, 2003; Smith et al., 2009). Results: 3 Superordinate themes emerged: No Country for young African women; Face to face with death; Learning to be myself. Discussion: On the background of the complexity of all migratory phases, the gender dimension assumes a key role in defining and influencing experiences. Being an African woman exposes to a high mandate in the Mother Earth as well as to stigma and preconceptions in the hosting country. The capability to resist and re-invent themselves as women and/or mothers emerged as positive aspect to face with challenges and obstacles