Understanding Vulnerabilities: Gendered Struggles of Undocumented Women at the France–UK Border

This thesis investigates the structural and lived vulnerabilities experienced by undocumented women at the France–UK border, with a focus on the informal settlements in Calais and Grande-Synthe. Explore how border governance, gendered insecurity, and systemic neglect shape the daily lives of women who navigate precarious migration routes. These dynamics were examined under a qualitative methodology based on an embodied narrative feminist approach through participant observation and informal conversation with 6 of volunteers. The five chapters of this thesis are divided into two main sections: Section I: Legal Frameworks and the Social Realities of Undocumented Women 1) Legal Frameworks and the Governance of Undocumented Women at the France–UK Border 2) Material and Social Realities of Undocumented Women at the France–UK Border Section II: Embodied Narratives and Field Encounters 3) Embodied Narratives and Lived Experiences of Undocumented Women 4) Embodied Methodology and Narrative Feminist Approach 5)Feminist Analysis Rooted in Field Reflections The finding reveals that, despite claims about legal and institutional frameworks, they do not provide meaningful protection for undocumented women. These women face complex forms of precarity due to gender, legal status, and border control policies focused on deterrence. Simultaneously, the narratives collected in this study highlight the strength, resistance, and care practices that undocumented women apply to survive. The role of grassroots volunteer initiatives provides a key aspect of support, offering informal networks of safety, care, and solidarity in the absence of institutional aid. This thesis challenges dominant protection narratives and contributes to feminist migration scholarship by focusing on the voices of undocumented women and engaging in responsible and reflexive research. It asks for a new ethical and relational approach to both research and policy, one that views undocumented women not as passive victims but as ones who are resisting dangerous situations.