Engendering Security at the Borders of Europe: Women Migrants and the Mediterranean ‘Crisis’

The dangers facing migrants attempting to reach the EU by boat have been highlighted in many reports and media articles. However, although more and more women are among those trying to reach Europe, little attention has so far been paid to the gendered nature of the insecurities facing these migrants. This article examines the experiences of women arriving in Kos, Greece, as part of a journey to seek protection in Europe, and analyses the ways in which gendered forms of violence, gendered divisions of space and relations of power create specific insecurities for these women.