Intersectional (in)visibility: experiences of irregular migrants in Barcelona

Özdemir, Gülce Şafak

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2023.2298351

Intersectional (in)visibility: experiences of irregular migrants in Barcelona

Citation

Özdemir, GŞ. Intersectional (in)visibility: experiences of irregular migrants in Barcelona. J Ethn Migr Stud. 2024;50(8):1862-85. DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.2023.2298351

Abstract

This research contributes to ever-growing research on multiple intersecting identities of irregular migrants. Investigating the experiences of 35 irregular migrants in Barcelona, it examines the paradoxical nature of the intersectional (in)visibility model across three analytical categories: institutional (in)visibility, (in)visibility as marginalization, and (in)visibility as strategy. Institutional (in)visibility involves the simultaneous co-existence of institutional invisibility at the national level and institutional visibility at the local level. (In)visibility as marginalization manifests discrimination or ignorance of certain irregular migrants with intersectional identities such as race, gender, or class, despite their shared legal status. (In)visibility as a strategy encompasses various performative actions, including street protests, to insert claims into the public sphere and camouflage to avoid racial profiling. Institutional (in)visibility is connected to the legal status and rights of irregular migrants; (in)visibility as marginalization is related to their race, gender, or class, while(in)visibility as strategy is a performed action as a response to institutional (in)visibility and/or (in)visibility as marginalization.