The unequal pandemic: A qualitative study exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrant women in Milan, Italy

The research presented in this poster starts from the assumption that migrants and women were among the groups most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic global disaster. By adopting an intersectional lens it can be inferred that migrant women were particularly vulnerable to its impacts, yet research targeting this group is still scant. Our study aimed to explore the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrant women living in Milan, Italy, investigating a broad spectrum of experiences and challenges. We conducted a phenomenological study using semi-structured interviews over the period September 2023 - January 2024 with 19 cisgender migrant women coming from 10 different countries, with a median age of 43 years. At the pandemic’s onset, 12 were undocumented migrants, four were documented, while three had obtained Italian citizenship. Most held informal job positions, primarily as domestic workers, and were impacted by the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic. Both before and during the pandemic, NGOs were the preferred entry point to the healthcare systems. Their psychological well-being was compromised by distance from family members and the extensive COVID-19 media coverage. Most of them disclosed vaccine skepticism, but adhered to the vaccination campaign due to its de-facto mandatory nature. Social isolation was identified as one of the least significant impacts. Overall, migrant women did not perceive themselves as a particularly vulnerable group, in general and as compared to migrant men and Italian women. As distrust emerged as a particularly significant issue, especially towards the Italian healthcare system, establishing trusting relationships beforehand is crucial for the effectiveness of disaster response efforts.