It is all a matter of trust: Polish women in Italy

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyse in depth the relations established by Polish women both in Italy and in Poland, both before and during their experience of migration, with the aim of understanding the importance of these relations and of trust. A survey and qualitative ethnographic methods were employed. With regard to the importance of trust in post-socialist societies, it is important to observe that the informal relations created to search for a job in Italy are first established in Poland. Only in a few exceptional cases do Polish women arrive in Italy without a job. Due to the situation of instability already present in their original society and the post-socialist period, another situation of instability is added: the migratory experience, increasing the general level of mistrust of these women. This mistrust cannot lead to an absence of social relations, especially considering their situation of need. In fact, it brings a particular attention to the relationships they establish and an increase of the importance of the role of trust in every aspect of their life.There is an extensive use of informal relations in every aspect of their working and social experience in Italy, even as far as their approaches to Italian institutions are concerned.