The Attitudes of Roma Women on Violent Extremism and Radicalization in Serbia: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The subject of this research is the attitudes of Roma women on the topic of violent extremism and radicalization in Serbia. It is at times perceived that the Roma population, characterized by an extremely low socio-economic status, is a highly vulnerable group, and thus often victim to manipulation by religious extremists. Within this group, Roma women are doubly discriminated and disadvantaged—as minority group members, and as women, due to the patriarchal concept of the Roma community and its rigid hierarchical organization. With some exceptions Roma women are typically subordinated to their male family members. This research is based on in-depth interviews and focus group discussions during which the author spoke with male and female members of the Roma community. As the only such study to date, the preliminary conclusions suggest that Roma women can, particularly under the influence of their male family members, become followers of fundamentalist or even radical religious interpretations, but that as they have a very significant role in the upbringing of children, they also have the potential to act, early and preventively, in order to suppress extremist ideologies. Moreover, educated Roma women working in government institutions and the civil sector may have the most significant role in the prevention of violent extremism and radicalization, especially those involved in awareness-raising among the marginalized women of the Roma community.