The primary objective of this Frontiers Research Topic is to produce a comprehensive understanding of the working conditions, health status, and acts of resistance among undocumented migrant women. By investigating these elements, the research intends to explore the intersections of labour and health inequalities imposed on these women due to their undocumented statuses and their positioning within the lower strata of global labour hierarchies. Moreover, it seeks to address the broader societal impacts of these conditions and propose potential pathways for improving their lives and labour conditions.

Argument

In the context of global migration, the feminisation of migration represents a significant shift, with a growing number of women participating independently in migratory movements. This trend aligns with the broader international division of reproductive labour, catalysed by the demands for low-skilled services in major urban centres and driven by family reunifications and the establishment of migratory networks by women themselves. Simultaneously, the global landscape has seen a surge in the informal economy, irregular employment, and labour casualisation, which are now entrenched components of the international labour market, affecting native and migrant populations. This underground economy is particularly enticing for undocumented migrants, exacerbated by neoliberal deregulation policies that favour precarious, low-wage jobs lacking formal protections.

The primary objective of this Research Topic is to produce a comprehensive understanding of the working conditions, health status, and acts of resistance among undocumented migrant women. By investigating these elements, the research intends to explore the intersections of labour and health inequalities imposed on these women due to their undocumented statuses and their positioning within the lower strata of global labour hierarchies. Moreover, it seeks to address the broader societal impacts of these conditions and propose potential pathways for improving their lives and labour conditions.

• To gather further insights into this pressing issue, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• workplace experiences of undocumented women including access, employment sectors, job roles, salaries, and recruitment practices
• health issues facing undocumented migrant women, highlighting morbidity, mental health challenges, workplace accidents, and exposure to violence
• correlations between irregular administrative statuses, working conditions, and deterioration of health assets
• effects of irregular legal status on housing access, motherhood, health care, and social welfare
• personal and collective resistance strategies employed by undocumented migrant women to counteract their marginalisation.

This targeted inquiry not only aims to illuminate the conditions faced by these women but also to engage with a broader academic and policy-oriented audience to foster strategic interventions at multiple levels.

Submission guidelines

• Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline : 11 February 2025

• Manuscript Submission Deadline : 01 June 2025

Submission online.

Submission guidelines.

Selection Committee

• Fabio Perocco, Universitè Ca' Foscari;
• Francesca Cimino, Universitè Ca' Foscari;
• Rafaela Pascoal, Universitè de Palerme.