Faith, Literacy, and Language: Exploring the Intersectional Barriers to Integration for Middle Eastern Women Migrants in the UK

Aim: This paper explores the intersectional barriers to integration faced by Middle Eastern migrant women in the United Kingdom, with a focus on faith, literacy, and language. Approach: Using an intersectional lens, it reviews existing literature rather than new empirical data, drawing on studies of religion, gender, and migration (Anthias 2020; Yuval-Davis 2021; Phillimore 2020). Findings: Faith-based identities provide both challenges and resources. On one hand, cultural and religious expectations can limit women’s access to education and employment (Shanneik 2022; Yuval-Davis 2021). On the other, faith communities and women-only groups can create safe spaces for resilience, solidarity, and learning (Connor and Koenig 2018; Cheung and Phillimore 2022). Literacy and language also intersect with faith, shaping access to public life and belonging (Erel and Ryan 2019; Gidley 2022). Implications: Integration policies and educational initiatives must account for these intersecting factors and foster inclusive spaces that recognise both constraints and opportunities in migrant women’s lives.