Exploring motivations, empowerment and agency of migrant women

This study employs narrative inquiry to explore the evolving motivations of women migrants as they embark on their migration journeys, discover and assert their agency, and challenge entrenched stereotypes associated with migrant women. Drawing on 54 biographical interviews with women from diverse backgrounds and COST member countries, the research examines how a complex interplay of personal aspirations, structural constraints, and sociocultural factors shapes individual migration trajectories. Thematic analysis reveals a range of motivations— including economic opportunity, education, family reunification, and escape from political or gender-based oppression—alongside instances of agency and resilience in the face of systemic challenges. The study underscores the transformative potential of migration for women and offers an intersectional perspective highlighting how overlapping identities influence access to rights, resources, and belonging. This research contributes to a more nuanced and humanized understanding of female migration experiences by centring on women’s voices. It offers insights with potential implications for gender-sensitive migration policies and integration strategies.