Abstract
This presentation explores the relationships between language and violence within the context of multilingual South Tyrol, focusing on experiences and trajectories of migration. The region of South Tyrol, located in northern Italy, is characterized by the presence of three “official” languages (German, Italian, and Ladin) which coexist alongside a superdiverse linguistic landscape. In this context, language plays a crucial role in accessing social, educational, and cultural arenas and is thus implicated in the reproduction of social inequality. In carrying out a multi-sited ethnography on educational transitions in South Tyrol, the story of a Muslim woman who experienced gender-based violence gained significance. Indeed, experiences of gender-based violence intersect with issues of race, class, and social status, posing migrant populations and individuals with trajectories of migration at increased risk. The presentation will highlight her trajectory of agency, focusing on how she mobilized her own cultural and linguistic repertoires as anti-violence practices, and on the role of education in healing and empowerment. Through her story, I will reflect on ethical and methodological complexities emerged during fieldwork, exploring the responsibilities connected to the representation of minoritized communities – e.g., refraining from perpetuating stereotypes, stigma, and re-traumatization. The woman participating in my research retains ownership of her story and the aspects of it that we decide to share (including the present abstract).