"Without us the world does not move." Immigrant women in the Spanish work context

Abstract

The present study aimed to learn the perspective of immigrant women in the workplace, taking into account the speeches of the protagonists themselves. The overall objective was to find the job conditions from their own perspectives. We conducted four focus groups (Latin American, Eastern European, Moroccan and sub-Saharan Africa) with a total of 47 women. The analysis of their speeches shows points in common because they are women, workers and immigrants, and some differences according to their place of origin. We describe the background of the migration project, working conditions (loss of job status and ethnicization, instability, prejudice) and the effects of these working conditions (cynicism, social isolation, different relationships with employers, resignation and submission). The reflections in the text dialogue with thoughts of other authors to enhance the visibility of women migrants, different but with many common points.