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"I am the same woman, but I know more than before." The empowerment of a Moroccan woman in Spain

Municipality of Huelva, Spain

Institutions involved
NGOs, Public Bodies, Other
Family networks
Initiative Typology
Work opportunities, Community participation (in migrant community associations), Language or/and culture courses
Problem addressed
The main character's integration process has been hampered mainly by her limited knowledge of Spanish, which is a barrier to being able to communicate with the rest of the people who live in the municipality of Huelva where she lives.
Resilience strategies addressed by women
Among the resilience strategies that the interviewee has developed, it is worth highlighting, first of all, the help that she is providing to her family while living and working in Spain. Second, consider the benefits of growing up and living in Spain for your child. And third, knowing where to turn when she needs guidance and support.
Description of the integration initiative implemented
The main integration initiatives that have been developed have been:
- Having arrived in Spain with a contract in origin that allowed her to obtain income and meet other people who were in a similar situation.
- Receive support from two relatives in the host society, specifically from her cousin and another relative who arrived in Spain before her.
- Know the institutions that can help her and guide her when she has any need.
- Receive training from the organizations in the target language, Spanish, favoring their interaction with other people.
- Adaptation of her culture of origin to the needs and desires of the protagonist. In Morocco she felt obliged to comply with Moroccan cultural customs, but in Spain she complies with them to the extent that she considers appropriate.
Personal story
The protagonist is of Moroccan origin. At the age of 23, due to her personal situation, she decided to migrate to Spain, where she has been living for 3 years. Her immigration process began when she made a contract for her at origin. She wasn't satisfied with the life she had. At a very young age, she was forced by her father to marry a man she did not want. After this negative experience in her marriage and with a daughter, she decides to divorce. She barely received help throughout the divorce process.
Faced with this situation, and being aware that there was no work in Morocco and she could not help her family, she decided to migrate to Spain. Her immigration process began when she signed a contract at origin. Despite being the first time that she left her country, during the trip she did not encounter great difficulties. However, when she arrived in Spain the situation got complicated. In the first place, she was unaware of her language, which prevented her from communicating with people. And, secondly, because she was not in a regularized situation, she had great difficulties in finding another type of job. She felt that because she was in an irregular situation, no one wanted to help her.
Despite the difficulties that she has faced throughout the immigration process, she feels that "I am the same woman, but I know more than before." She feels satisfied and proud to be in Spain. Also, her way of perceiving her life has changed. For example, she previously considered that women should dedicate themselves to housework (reproductive activities), while men should develop activities that provide economic income (productive activities). However, today it is she herself who performs professional tasks outside the home.
On the other hand, she affirms that she has had the help of people who have facilitated the integration process. Specifically, a relative who lived in another city that welcomed her for three months at the beginning of her stay in Spain. She also has a cousin who lived in Spain before she arrived and who has helped her a lot.
In addition, she considers that she has received a lot of support from institutions such as the City Council or the Red Cross, who have helped her in different aspects, such as learning Spanish or in legal matters.
Although she has no friends in Spain, she feels calm and comfortable, which is why she wants to stay and live in that country. Her goal is to get a more stable job that allows her to receive more income to be able to live alone in a house and send more money to Morocco, since since she arrived in Spain she has dedicated herself to working in the fields. However, her greatest desire is to get her son to come to live with her, as she believes that it could greatly benefit her in training and employment issues, among others.
Although during the migratory process that the protagonist has experienced, she has had to face great adversities, she feels good and considers that her situation will continue to improve.
Analysis of the initiative and individual story
The main integration initiatives have been:
RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS
- The institutions have provided her with training, guidance and support in the different areas that the protagonist has needed since she arrived in Spain.
- Have relatives in the host society who have helped her since the beginning of her immigration process.
CULTURAL IDENTITY:
- Adaptation of her culture of origin to the needs and considerations of the protagonist, feeling more freedom than in her country of origin.
JOB:
- The professional performance of her has allowed her to feel fulfilled as a person and to be able to help relatives who are in the country of origin.
MOTIVATION OF MIGRATION:
- The malaise that she suffered in her country of origin and the job opportunities that arose in her host society prompted her to make the decision to migrate to Spain.
Results and Impact
The protagonist has improved the situation she had in Morocco. By getting a contract at origin, she has achieved the economic autonomy that she needed to be more independent and to be able to end her marital relationship, just as she wished.
Although she would like to get a job with greater stability, she thinks that her life has improved a lot because she can help her son financially. Also, she feels more confident. Therefore, in the future she would like to continue living in Spain and be able to obtain that her son can live with her in that country.