The lived experiences of Muslim refugee women in Malta : exploring the intersectionality of gender, religion, and refugee status

Abstract

For more than two decades, a significant number of asylum seekers and refugees have been arriving on the Maltese islands, primarily departing from the North African coast, escaping persecution and in search of a better life. Among them are Muslim refugee women whose personal narratives of survival and resilience are often unacknowledged. Studies conducted in Malta have looked at the experiences of Muslim women and refugee women separately, and it appears there is still a notable gap in the literature when it comes to exploring the intersectional experiences of Muslim refugee women in Malta. Accordingly, the purpose of this research is to explore and understand the lived experiences of Muslim refugee women in Malta and to investigate how the intersectionality of religion, gender, and refugee status shapes and impacts their overall lived experiences. Adopting a qualitative research approach, the present researcher held individual, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with six Muslim refugee women living in Malta. While highlighting the unique experiences of each Muslim refugee woman, the findings identify several key themes in their narrative, namely, the process of becoming a ‘refugee’ and the implications of such a label; the language barrier; the limited recognition of previous education; obstacles and discrimination on account of religion; gender dynamics; community support; and future aspirations and hope. In light of such findings, the study makes recommendations for community development, service provision, and further research in order to support in a more informed manner and understand better the experiences of Muslim refugee women in Malta.