Between dreams of papers and a house: Everyday life of Albanian undocumented migrant women in Greece

Abstract: This research draws attention to the way undocumented Albanian immigrant women experience their everyday life in Greece. Which are the structural factors experienced by Albanian undocumented immigrant women that defines their everyday life in Greece and what strategies are used by these women in order to resist these macro-structural factors. Qualitative interviews were held with 11 undocumented Albanian migrant women and 3 Albanian immigrant women that are leaders of Albanian associations in Greece. The interviews were analysed through a theoretical frame work that pays attention to the structural factors as much as to the human agency. The research showed that factors that have contributed in putting Albanian women in a certain position are the following. First, unemployment in Albania, in the context of economic restructuring has caused these women to migrate. Secondly, they cross the borders undocumented. The act of migration without documents is seen as an act of resistance undertaken by these women in order to resist economic structures. Thirdly, these women are found at the lowest level of the labour market i.e. in the informal economy, doing domestic work, like cleaners, taking care of children, elderly and disabled. They experience difficult working conditions based on gender and race. Even though they face employment insecurity i.e. lacks of jobs; working part-time; in daily and hourly basis etc, they still find ways of how to cope with this situation. Even though they have limited opportunities to plan their future and have experienced exploitation from lawyers in acquiring documents, they still dream about fixing papers in Greece and building a house in Albania.