Navigating Precarious Privilege: The Experiences of Brazilian Student-Migrants in Lisbon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14422/mig.24314.029Keywords:
student migration, international student mobility, lifestyle migration, urban spaces, cosmopolitan aspirationsAbstract
This study explores the experiences of Brazilian student-migrants in Lisbon, examining the interplay between privilege and precariousness in their trajectories. While international student mobility is often framed as a pursuit of academic and professional advancement, this research highlights how Brazilian student-migrants navigate broader lifestyle aspirations, labour market challenges, and housing insecurities, using the analytical lens of precarious privilege. Through an ethnographic approach involving participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups, the study reveals how these individuals negotiate their dual roles as students and workers in a context marked by rising living costs, exploitative housing practices, and labour market instability. Findings show that despite their perceived privilege as highly educated migrants, many face significant vulnerabilities, including financial strain, discrimination, and precarious employment. By situating these experiences within Lisbon’s socio-economic transformations, the research underscores implications for urban inequality and migration policy.
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