The Women and Girls Safe Space Case

Abstract

This contribution is part of research on the feminisation of migration and uses a gender approach. This line of study challenges classical migration theories, which traditionally focus on male migrants, highlighting the active and autonomous role of women and studying their historical presence, not only recent, in migration processes (Donato & Gabaccia, 2015; Roman & Micheletto, 2025). The article proposes an in-depth case study focused on women, avoiding the “male bias in migration research” (Morokvasic, 1984, p. 899) and giving voice to the experiences of participants in different forms of female migration (Catarino & Morokvasic, 2005; Schmol, 2022) with a narrative approach (Bichi, 2002). In particular, the chapter presents the results of field research conducted as part of a case study in Palermo on the Women and Girls Safe Space (WGSS), a service dedicated to women in vulnerable situations, within the framework of the European Horizon 2020 Global Answer project. Its innovative nature and target population made it a particularly interesting service to investigate in depth through exploratory field research. The study employed participant observation by the researcher and semi-structured interviews with the service coordinator, operators and staff members, as well as—following a specific interview guide—with the women attending the WGSS.