Obstacles to emancipation of Roma women

• Published in: Human affairs (Bratislava, Slovakia) Slovakia), 2016-10, Vol.26 (4), p.478-484
• Main Authors: Kajanová, Alena, Mrhálek, Tomáš, Lidová, Lenka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Discrimination; emancipation; Family roles; gender role; Gender roles; Hegemony; Roma family; Roma woman; Romani people; Women
• ISSN: 1210-3055; 1337-401X
• DOI: 10.1515/humaff-2016-0040

The article describes the obstacles to the emancipation of Roma women in the family and Czech society. The theoretical side deals with the recent changes in gender roles in the Roma family, changes in the position of Roma women and their discrimination as well as the concept of emancipation. The article aims to describe the obstacles a Roma woman must overcome in the course of emancipation. The data are based on qualitative socio-ethnographic research conducted through narrative interviews with 30 women of different ages and classes who identify as Roma and live in three Czech regional capitals. The research sample was compiled using the snowball method. The data collected in the field research were analyzed in Atlas.ti using anchored theory. We identified five main obstacles to the emancipation of Roma woman. They include obstacles emanating from the family and the majority society as well as obstacles caused by the hegemony of masculinity and those emanating from the woman. By gaining an understanding of relations in Roma families, the situation regarding the emancipation of Roma women and the associated barriers may help those who come into daily contact with the Roma minority to take appropriate actions and apply the right interventions.