Exploring the gendered experiences of British lifestyle migrants in Spain in the context of Brexit

Gender influences the meanings with which British lifestyle migrants give sense to their lives in Spain. This research addresses this issue in the context of Brexit, where gender differences are intertwined with the accentuation of distinctions between permanent and part-time residents resulting from the new policy framework. The study, based on 35 qualitative interviews, shows how the construction of a new lifestyle centred around leisure is affected in Spain by (1) the different relationships that men and women establish with the so-called ‘drinking culture’ and (2) the amplification that Brexit produces in the tensions arising from the different meanings that men and women assign to their family ties and responsibilities. The proposed analysis integrates the explanation of emotional, social and institutional factors.