This paper explores how men and womenexperience their time waiting for a response to applicationsfor international protection, in asylum seekers’ receptioncenters in Italy and Greece. The experience of waiting incamps can be characterized as one of extended uncertainty,during which women and men live lives in a new environment,with limited physical and social interactions with localcommunities. Qualitative data collected in early 2017reveals that these prolonged waits generate variousvulnerabilities, some compounding those already caused bytrying journeys, which include gender-specificvulnerabilities. In addition, the paper provides an overviewof the aspirations men and women asylum seekers hold as theylook at the future. These aspirations are informed bypre-existing gender and social norms, but their developmentappears to be influenced also by the time in waiting.Specifically, aspirations seem constrained for all by thehigh levels of uncertainty and duration of the legalprocess, as well as by limited information, and barriers tointeractions with local communities. Thus, men and womenmiss out on opportunities to qualify or broaden theiraspirations, as they wait. Taking into account the differentchallenges and opportunities men and women asylum seekersface may be helpful in devising more targeted and thuseffective policies with regards to asylum seekers duringthis period in waiting.
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