MadresUP: Empowering Resilient Motherhood of Migrant, Refugee and Roma Women for their Psychosocial Wellbeing

Coordinator: Virginia Paloma.

Duration: 2023-2026.

Abstract: Latina, African migrant and Roma mothers in situations of social vulnerability have been relevant agents in our societies. However, they have often been relegated to the margins and trapped in a cycle of vulnerability during their experience of motherhood. Although the life stories of this population are diverse, they have in common that they share unfair living conditions due to situations of gender, race and class inequality deeply rooted in our societies. In particular, immigrant mothers find themselves minoritized in host environments as anti-immigration sentiment grows, while Roma mothers continue to face historical anti-Gypsyism. The number of challenges that Latina, African and Roma immigrant mothers face during motherhood often translates into a loss of their levels of psychosocial well-being that can translate into symptoms of depression, anxiety, guilt or psychosomatic symptoms.

Given this reality, the MadresUP Project develops a community-based intervention to improve the psychosocial well-being of Latina, African and gypsy migrant mothers; as well as to promote the generation and diversification of social support networks among groups of mothers. In addition, it aims to develop critical awareness and understanding of challenging conditions for motherhood; promote the perception of the possibility of transformation in important socio-political contexts; promote active participation in the construction of safe and healthy contexts for motherhood; create more inclusive and welcoming communities; and promote successful motherhood for different groups of mothers.

Grant PID2022-142648NB-I00, Funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and FEDER/UE