Double Mobility? Exploring Geographical and Social Mobility through the Accounts of Migration Experiences of Albanian Women in the European Context

Within European migration, East-West movements characterized by a high percentage of women followed the fall of the Iron Curtain and communist regimes. Scientific literature contributed to shed light on the migration of Albanian women and girls to Western European countries after the collapse of the communist regime, with this literature being, however, still scarce; besides, research on female migration from Albania is limited.By focusing on the narratives of two Albanian women and their migration experiences, this article aims to provide insights into women's mobility experiences through an approach that accounts for both geographical and social mobility.The primary data of the present research are provided by the qualitative dataset developed within the COST action "Women on the Move- CA19112" framework. By performing a thematic analysis of the transcripts, three main themes were generated: Reasons for leaving: preliminary socialization and networks within women's experiences; Before and after migration: Understanding migration-related challenges in relation to women's meaning attributions of their experiences as migrant women; Evaluating mobility experiences: looking back to the past and looking forward to an "up-warded" present and future.This study could serve as a contribution to enrich the range of studies that link women’s migration and social mobility. Received: 11 November 2025 /Accepted: 31 December 2025 / Published: January 2026