“Corpi indocili”, “storie eccedenti”. Violenza, genere, asilo tra processi di assoggettamento, ri-appropriazione e resistenza

The proposed analysis thoroughly explores the experiences of violence endured by women seeking asylum and refugees within the asylum system, focusing particularly on their interactions with the institutional actors responsible for their care and management. Through a detailed examination of a specific case study, the objective is to scrutinize the perpetuation of violence in arrival contexts, shedding light on the mechanisms of body governance, control, and acculturation practices utilized in these settings. These mechanisms perpetuate a preconceived, genderized, and racialized notion of the “true female refugee,” consistently portraying them as foreign, victimized, passive, and lacking agency. This reinforces narratives that emphasize their perceived need for rescue and protection. Furthermore, the study seeks to elucidate how women asylum seekers and refugees resist such violence by reclaiming agency and asserting their own narratives, bodies, and identities, thereby revealing distinct forms of resistance.