Words, Postures, and Practices that Rehabilitate and Weaken in the Reception Paths of Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Abstract

In our work with refugee women and asylum seekers, we often found ourselves reflecting on the language and practices that shape pathways of reception and integration. This contribution investigates the words and postures that, though intended to «rehabilitate» and support, sometimes produce asymmetric power dynamics, reproducing processes that weaken individuals. Focusing on the concept of the «maternal» as a rehabilitative and disabling label, we explore the implications of this categorization, impacting both refugee women, perceived as mothers deserving of protection, and female workers, often assessed for their «maternal» stance toward clients. Through ethnographic snapshots, we analyze how the maternal becomes a judgment metric that determines who is deemed worthy of inclusion or exclusion, reflecting broader control practices. Finally, we propose a critical perspective on reception practices, highlighting how the maternal, instead of facilitating genuine integration, often reinforces hierarchies that restrict the true empowerment of both refugee women and the professionals involved.