Navigating Crisis: Violence, Mobility, and Gendered Experiences of Unaccompanied Venezuelan Adolescents

This study examines the experiences of 14 unaccompanied Venezuelan adolescents (aged 15-19) migrating to Peru, using life course theory and biographical analysis. The research reveals three distinct groups: emancipated boys migrating for work, girls joining partners, and girls victimized by trafficking. Findings highlight gendered dimensions characterized by childhood violence, early emancipation, and mismatched institutional care. The study demonstrates how personal autonomy, peer networks, and family dynamics shape migration trajectories, challenging conventional life stage progressions. It contributes to migration theory by revealing the complex interplay between individual agency, family circumstances, and socio-economic factors in adolescent migration.