Why is it mostly men on the boats?

[LinedOverLatte]

Inspired by a different thread relating to yesterday’s march.

Many of the comments on the thread about the march are rude about men, suggesting these ‘gammons’ are violent thugs who’ve told their women to stay at home.

They are men looking for a fight apparently.

One quote - “the fact that it’s only men should raise questions...”

So, my question is “it is mostly men coming in on the boats - shouldn’t that ALSO raise questions…?”

It’s actually very difficult for Albanians to get a visa to the UK, because of the perceived risk of overstaying.

I don’t know statistics but from what I’ve personally seen, the boats are carrying mostly men. In comparison if you watch BBC news when they show videos of the countries experiencing conflict and have refugee camps, it’s largely women, alone with their children, no father or partner present.

I imagine if someone has made it to France they will have passed through many safe countries. But even making it to Europe isn't enough now?

So how many refugees should we take?

Well there's an asylum process so they go through that...

I'm simply making the point that while I can see why it would be worth risking your life to escape a literal war zone, I am struggling to see why France is so awful it's worth the risk... therefore to leave France for the UK appears to be an economic decision...

I thought the number of Albanians had been greatly reduced?

I remember this question bring raised when I was on MN regularly, 15 years ago.
when I printed out how difficult it would be for a lone woman to make the journey the OP simply couldn’t grasp why that would be
I think they imagined it like some sort of gap year travel though the nicer parts of Europe either plenty of money and mum and dad on the end of a phone.
i was astounded at the lack of imagination or maybe just education

It has, but I think others had made that point.

But they can’t request asylum until they are here. This is the root of the issue.

We spread English around the world - would you rather go to a county you can speak the language? Help with everything including future work prospects

I can’t get used to MNing in my phone. I’m afraid I’m going to annoy a lot of people until I do 😄

Agreed - I work with unaccompanied asylum seeking children - the horror and abuse they endure travelling here would make most decent humans weep.

And all of our Albanian kids get no leave to remain at 18

Because it’s illegal??! Dangerous etc

It appears that way to you because you’ve chosen not to imagine or learn about any other reasons. I don’t know if you’ve travelled much but English is quite widely spoken, and weirdly the UK has a reputation for being a tolerant and good place to live. There are a lot of different nationalities here and people tend to think they will find a community. The same reasons that people legally come here - rather than France, say - are often the same for people seeking asylum. I know people love to think that people come here for the benefits system but if that were true they’d be better off anywhere else jn W Europe.

Honestly just ask yourself where you would if there was a coup, a war, a natural disaster or a famine here? Would your reasoning make sense to complete strangers?

Oh my word. If you could choose anywhere in the world where it’s full of stupid people where would you choose? They’ve chosen here.

I’ll be honest. Exchanging stupid for people on boats is becoming more and more appealing!

It's incredible to believe that Albania will potentially join the EU in a matter of years...I wonder if they will have freedom of movement or if they will put some sort of restrictions in place? It will be interesting to see

Thats the biggest load of bullshit ive ever heard 🤣🤣🤣

Do you have a more.. sensible answer?

I won’t hold my breath.

Well they’re coming from France, which is not a war torn country

They come over. Look after themselves. End of story.

Not sure why that matters, we don’t have freedom of movement.

Oh good, if they’re looking after themselves that makes letting them in even more attractive!

😜 No you’re good!

I voted to leave the EU reluctantly and the prospect of Albania joining was one of my reasons among others. I just think it's interesting. A country that is apparently so terrible that people will risk their lives on dinghies suddenly having freedom of movement? I just wonder how the EU would approach that issue . But I digress...

Genuinely, it’s interesting that was vote swaying in 2016 and now 9 years later it’s still only a possibility. Turkey was mentioned too - they haven’t either yet.

Almost like it wasn’t really a thing, at the time.

Brexit actually made our migration harder to manage administratively, and lead to the increase in the infamous boats.