Migrant Women’s Bodies in Transit: From Sub-Saharan Africa to Spain in Real Life and Film

Abstract

Given its geo-strategic position, Spain has become the gateway to the EU for thousands of African migrants. Contrary to other European countries such as the United Kingdom or France, the social phenomenon dubbed the “massive African emigration” has been relatively recent vis-à-vis Spain, as it did not start until the 1980s. Although hesitantly at first, it was at this time that the traditional fishing boats from West Africa (called “pateras” and “cayucos”) began to arrive packed with migrants; first to the Canary Islands (Fuerteventura in particular), and later to the coastal towns of Andalusia in the South of the peninsula. From then on, Spain has played a major role in the transportation and reception of “human cargo.” Interestingly enough, we should bear in mind that due to socio-political circumstances, and its dictatorial regime, from the 1950s to the 1960s Spain became a “sender,” mostly of unskilled migrant workers (to the factories of Switzerland, Germany, or England), but also of artists and intellectuals (to the universities and cultural institutions in France, the UK, Argentina, or Mexico (to name a few of the major countries). Today, Spain has become a “receiver” of migrants from the African continent—in particular from the sub-Saharan countries. Thus, starting in the late 1980s, due to the dangers of a long and uncertain journey mostly young, robust, athletic, and strong men were the first to arrive. As was the case with the slave trade and the Middle Passage of the “peculiar institution” of slavery, only the strongest and the fittest would survive such a dehumanizing experience. African women would arrive later, braving the treacherous routes, the extremely long distance, the unbearable and extreme weather conditions, plus having to deal with the threat of smugglers and mafias, as well as their sexual vulnerability. While they cover the same routes and risk their lives exactly as male migrants, the experience of African women on their way to Europe differs significantly from that of their male counterparts.