The Second Migrant

In thesis, it will be investigated how gender is being framed in the European Union’s external migration policy with Africa. Though the areas of external policy, migration and gender have been studied extensively, little research can be found on how they interplay, particularly when it comes to Africa which constitutes a highly topical player in EU geopolitics. By applying an adapted Critical Frame Analysis (CFA), a feminist research method developed to study gender equality policies across Member States, five frames are put to test: vulnerability, development, gender mainstreaming, intersectionality, and security. The results show only vulnerability and development play out as the theory suggested while the others presented differently or not at all. Tying the individual frames together, a broader, yet clearer picture of how gender is framed in Africa is painted. Finally, it will be evidenced that the EU sticks to reductive representations of gender and development which hinder a sustainable, timely approach to migration from Africa.