Gendered and Intersecting Coping in Forced Migration: Refugee Women in Portugal

The intensification of armed conflicts has forced thousands of women to seek refuge in other countries, exposing them to conditions of heightened vulnerability, characterized by inequality, violence, and mental health challenges. Despite these adversities, refugee women demonstrate resilience through diverse coping strategies. However, qualitative research centring women’s experiences within gender-sensitive and intersectional frameworks remains limited. This study aims to characterize the experiences of forced migration among refugee women in Portugal and to explore the coping strategies they have developed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six refugee women residing in Portugal. Based on thematic analysis, the data revealed a trajectory marked by material and symbolic losses, disruption of social bonds, and symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress. Motherhood emerged both as motivation and as an obstacle to social and professional integration. Participants reported various coping strategies, including social support, self-efficacy, optimism, emotional regulation, religious coping, and contemplative practices. These findings indicate that coping strategies among refugee women are shaped not only by trauma exposure, but also by gendered structural conditions in the host context. These results highlight the need for gender-sensitive and trauma-informed public policies, as well as community-based interventions to promote social integration and well-being.