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

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