Abstract. In the face of conti­nued refugee arri­vals, mili­ta­ri­sing of borders, and decrea­sing State support, France has expe­rienced a rapid growth in refugee “soli­da­rity” orga­ni­sa­tions. These informal orga­ni­sa­tions, often composed of volun­teers who have no previous expe­rience of enga­ge­ment with migra­tion issues, offer a range of services such as housing, economic support, social or legal assis­tance. But whilst this growth of citizen “soli­da­rity » towards refu­gees may be welcome in provi­ding services which the State is not, there is also poten­tial for the produc­tion of gendered and racia­lised forms of violence and exploi­ta­tion. In this article we explore the meanings of sexua­lity and inti­macy in these rela­tion­ships between volun­teers and refu­gees, and the struc­tures of power and inequa­lity within which they are situated. We analyse the gendered and racia­lised dimen­sions of these rela­tions and the ways in which “soli­da­rity” may produce violence and exploitation.

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