reading on feminism(s) and rroma women

“Re-envisioning Social Justice from the Ground Up: Including the Experiences of Romani Women” by Alexandra Oprea, a paper that:

… centres on the exclusion of Romani women from mainstream feminist and antiracist discourses in Europe. This exclusion is explained through the lens of intersectionalism and problematic identity politics. It discusses their invisibility as perpetuated by programmes and reports from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It explains the absence of Romani women from Romani and feminist discourses, the uncritical view of Romani culture, and the vulnerability of Romanian Romani women to domestic violence. It emphasizes that analyses of social problems must be performed from the bottom up, looking at the experiences of those who are multi-burdened, such as poor Romani women. The paper concludes by discussing the value of recognizing privilege as the foundation for inclusive scholarship and discourse.

Several other analyses in addition to the sources here:

“The Erasure of Romani Women in Statistical Data: Limits of the Race-versus-Gender Approach” by Alexandra Oprea

“Child Marriage a Cultural Problem, Educational Access a Race Issue? Deconstructing Uni-Dimensional Understanding of Romani Oppression” by Alexandra Oprea

“Double Discrimination Faced by Romani Women in Europe” by Angela Kocze

“Breaking the Barriers – Romani Women and Access to Public Health Care”: European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia report

Also discussing mainstream bias and reactionaryism to anti-discrimination work, the fact that “anti-Gypsyism is often combined with other types of discriminatory practices such as xenophobia, sexism and homophobia”…:

“Fourth arm of the state. Romania’s press becomes a willing partner in prejudice” by Valeriu Nicolae

update sept. 2008; a few other good materials:

“Economic Aspects of the Condition of Roma Women”, Berliner Institut für Vergleichende Sozialforschung, 2006 [PDF]

“A Place at the Policy Table: Report on the Roma Women’s Forum”, OSI, 2004

“Broadening the Agenda: The Status of Romani Women in Romania”, OSI, Laura Surdu and Mihai Surdu, 2006

“Romani Women: Between Two Cultures” in Bending the Bow. Targeting Women’s Human Rights and Opportunities. OSI, Network Women’s Program, 2003 (thanks c.)

“The Situation of Roma/Gypsy Women in Europe”, Nicoleta Bitu, 1999 (thanks c.)

more: Roma Women Association, Romania: Reports

British women’s peace camper arrested for nuclear protest

At the start of the week that sees a vote on Trident replacement (14 March), Juliet McBride from Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp was arrested on Saturday 10 March 2007, after spending over two hours on a high security fence surrounding the new Orion laser at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston.

Juliet was subsequently held for more than 10 hours and charged with Criminal Trespass under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. The Attorney General must now decide whether to proceed with a prosecution.

Her anti-nuclear protest was made just before parliament prepares to vote on the government motion on Trident Replacement: “That this house supports the government’s decision as set out in the white paper The Future of the United Kingdoms Nuclear Deterrent (CM6994) to take the steps necessary to maintain the UK minimum strategic nuclear deterrent beyond the life of the existing system and to take further steps towards meeting the UK’s disarmament responsibilities under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

While the White Paper outlined its belief in the need for imminent decisions on replacing the submarine fleet and missile bodies, the government claims that decisions on future nuclear warheads will not be required until the next parliament. However, work is already well under way on the new Orion laser – before any decision is made in parliament, at an estimated cost of over £180 million (see building work in pictures). Orion will be able to replicate the conditions of a nuclear explosion, can only be needed and intended to design new nuclear warheads.

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NOTES:

For more info contact 07887 802879.
For photos go to http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364870.html or http://www.aldermaston.net/news/169

High resolution photographs available here:
http://aldermaston.net/media
(Note, free single use in print or web – with credit: Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp(aign). For all other permissions please contact us)

A range of groups are organising events to say “no” to Trident replacement on 14 March. See http://tridentvoteday.org.uk
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