A study on the experiences of asylum-seeking women in Portugal reveals significant challenges they face, particularly discrimination from professionals in reception and integration institutions. Based on 24 interviews with women from the Middle East and Africa, the research highlights issues like neglect, hostility, and cultural insensitivity, which contribute to feelings of abandonment and fear. These barriers hinder their integration and increase their vulnerability, compounded by gender-based and structural violence in asylum processes. The study emphasizes the importance of empathy, trust, and intercultural awareness among professionals to foster effective inclusion. It concludes that systemic change is necessary to address institutional discrimination, advocating for professional training in gender-sensitive and intercultural competencies, and promoting equitable and inclusive reception practices in Portugal.