Roma Women Research Articles

Influences of origin and destination on migrant fertility in Europe

AbstractThe current study examines the quantum of childbearing of migrants from low‐fertility contexts (Poland and Romania) at multiple destinations (Italy and the United Kingdom), and compares them to stayers at origin and to nonmigrants at destination, combining the multiorigin/multidestination approach with the ‘context‐of‐origin’ perspective. Using data from the Labour Force Surveys (2009–2015) and adopting a gender and a couple perspective, we show that Polish and Romanian women have fewer children than nonmigrants at destinations. Romanian migrant women and men have a fertility similar to that of stayers at the origin, especially in United Kingdom, suggesting a socialization pattern for this group. Our findings also suggest the presence of the disruption mechanism for migrants, mainly in the short term, combined with a ‘catch‐up’ in the long run explained by family reunification, primarily in Italy. However, the ‘catch‐up’ over time of residence is found to be slower compared to previous studies. Finally, we find selection into migration and into different destination play an important role.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression in Romanian Women during Two Periods of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Postpartum depression is a major mental health disorder that can negatively affect both mother and baby. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic associated with extreme measures of the lockdown had profound effects on humanity, increasing the rates of anxiety and depression, especially among women in the postpartum period. The aim of this study was threefold: to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression, to compare the prevalence of postpartum depression at two different times during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to assess a possible association between the timing of childbirth in a given period of the pandemic and the risk of postpartum depression. A cross-sectional study involving 154 women who were interviewed immediately postpartum, using the EPDS scale, was conducted at the Timisoara Municipal Hospital, Romania at two different periods during the COVID-19 pandemic (March–April 2020 during the first wave and August–September 2021 during the fourth wave). The overall prevalence of postpartum depression (EPDS score > 13) was 18.8%, with a statistically significantly higher rate among participants surveyed during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania; the COVID-19 pandemic represents an impact on women’s mental health in the postpartum period, increasing the risk of developing postpartum depression.

Romanian Women’s Activism in Cluj during the Interwar Years

Romanian Women’s Activism in Cluj during the Interwar Years

Promoting justice through community-based research: International case studies.

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches to promoting justice focus on working from the ground up and giving a voice to marginalized communities regarding their concerns, potential solutions, and how to address social justice issues that matter to them. The pursuit of justice is often related to efforts to attain personal as well as collective well-being. In this paper, we illustrate three exemplars of community psychologists' efforts to promote justice. Within each case study, we discuss the social and community context and examine how the researchers built partnerships and solidarity, developed ways of doing, and approached challenges and solutions. First, we present an example to promote economic justice through an entrepreneurship initiative developed in collaboration with young Black youth with disabilities in the United States. The second case illustrates an effort to promote reproductive justice in collaboration with Roma women and girls in Spain. The third exemplar depicts the use of life stories as a method to raise the voices of displaced, marginalized indigenous women in Peru. Based on these three case studies, we present a synthesis model of social justice. We also discuss implications for future studies emphasizing the importance of engaging community participants in research meaningful ways, developing sustainable partnerships, and decolonizing research.

Female Representations and Presences in Romanian First World War Commemorative Art.

Art does not represent reality, but it can be an expression of it. Artists always used real-life experiences, including such events as revolutions, wars, etc. as a source for their works. At the same time, political and religious leaders used artistic, visual language for promoting their military victories or the supremacy of their power or faith. So, artworks, buildings, sculptures, or paintings were valuable tools for propaganda. Art can be used as a manifestation of political power or as a form of protesting against it. Sometimes artists were asked to represent abstract values like liberty, victory, peace, or the nation. In such circumstances, artists used the feminine form and not only because the notions were feminine nouns. Considering these general premises, my study explores the female representations and presences in Romanian First World War commemorative art. The study examines how the feminine form was used in the First World War monuments. The personification of abstract notions was examined, together with the presence of real feminine figures in this type of art, and Romanian women’s involvement in creating and sponsoring these kinds of monuments. In addition, the study intends to assess the impact and the extent to which people in general, and women in particular, resonated with these monumental works of art. The main sources for this approach were the public monuments built during the interwar period as part of the commemoration practices of the war. Given the context, reference is also made to other works of art having female representations, created by the same artists who created the monuments under review.

Young Women, Social Media and Antigypsyism in Spain: An Experience of an Online Workshop with Roma Girls and Women

Social media such as Twitter and Facebook are currently sites where right-wing (political) groups in Spain find easy ways to spread organised and random hate speech towards minority groups, among which the Roma community. However, members of these groups, especially the younger generations, are rapidly learning how to protect themselves from racist and sexist online attacks, raise their voices and make their realities more visible, creating counter-narratives against hate speech and making the internet a safer space for themselves. This article presents the results of an action-research experience with young Roma women in Spain. Fifteen participants between 15 and 30 years old gathered for six online sessions during the Covid-19 pandemic, exchanging ideas and designing strategies to counter Antigypsyism online. The internet was not only the focus of the workshop, but also the main tool to carry it out. The project was informed by intersectional feminist thought, its main aim being to enable Romani women to deal with sexism and racism as a double axis of discrimination and online harrassment in Spain. In this article we will explain the methodology that was used and the topics, themes and insights that came up during the sessions, followed by some reflections on the process of designing and developing the workshop based on the theoretical discussions about Antigypsyim and social media in Spain.

Predicting cervical screening and HPV vaccination attendance of Roma women in Hungary: community nurse contribution is key

BackgroundHPV screening/vaccination has been observed lower for ethic minorities. Understanding factors that predict and can improve attendance is therefore key. Hence, the aim was to identify causes, especially concerning the quality of the patient-provider relationship, that predict past HPV screening and vaccination turnout of Roma women in Hungary.MethodsCross-sectional research design with self-developed, culturally sensitive questionnaire. A final, female Roma sample of 368 participants was randomly selected from census register. Community nurses contacted participants and distributed surveys. Surveys were mailed-in by participants. Bivariate logistic regression was used to predict former participation in HPV screening/vaccination.ResultsOf the total sample, 17.4% of women attended at least one cervical screening and HPV vaccination in the past. Bad screening experience was positively associated with racially unfair behaviors of physicians. The odds of past attendance were 4.5 times greater if ‘no negative earlier experience’ occurred, 3.3 times likelier if community nurse performed screening/immunization and 1.6 times more probable if respondent felt ‘no shame’. Evaluating the screening/vaccination process painful, being only financially motivated and attendance involving a lot of travel decreased the odds of ‘no show’ by 50%, 40% and 41%, respectively.ConclusionsWhen considering the ratio of past cervical screening attendance, we conclude that our female Roma sample did not behave differently from the general population. We saw no evidence that racial mistreatment made any contribution to explaining cervical screening participation. Past positive screening experience and the quality of patient-provider relationship increased the odds of participation the most. Cancer of friends, pain, financial motivation and travel distance decreased odds of participation to a lesser extent. In order to improve future screening and immunization, community nurses should play more central and advanced role in the organization and implementation of such services specifically targeting Roma populations.

Predictors of planned caesarean section births in a sample of Romanian women.

Romania has one of the highest incidences of births by caesarean section (CS) in the European Union (EU). The present study aims to identify the possible predictors of planned caesarean section (PCS) in a convenience sample of Romanian women. This is a secondary analysis of the cross-sectional data collected as part of the EU-level Babies Born Better online survey from 1908 Romanian women who gave birth between 2013 and 2018. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to identify the potential individual and health system-level predictors of PCS. PCS was reported by 36.7% (n=657) of the women. In the multivariable regression model, older maternal age (aOR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.14) and presence of medical or non-medical problems during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.31-2.12) were significantly associated with PCS. Conversely, birth at a very high level of competence hospital was inversely associated with PCS (aOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30-0.76). Our findings indicate that PCS may be associated with both individual and health system-level variables. Our results are significant because they could be used to inform decision-making processes aimed at lowering PCS incidence.

Romanian Women in Sciences: Facts, Figures, and Achievements in the Last Two Centuries

In the last two centuries, Romanian women had to struggle in order to carve a place for themselves not only in sciences, but also in the society. Eventually, their struggle paid off. Today, women can enjoy a prominent career in academia as well as in any other field of their choice. This article provides a concise summary of their struggles and their achievements as well as a short catalogue of the leading feminine figures. It aims at pointing out the main roads to emancipation, modernization and empower-ment of women in Romania from the XIXth century onwards.

Minority within the minority: roma women trapped by origin and gender

It is still very difficult to analyse the role of Roma women within the family, which is influenced by numerous factors. This minority forms a heterogeneous group. Romungro, Vlach and Boyash have female roles with complex cultural systems, and each group has a distinct group identity that has been held together for centuries, binding the group together. Place of residence, education and labour market position also influence women's roles. As a consequence, a colourful picture emerges when we examine the role of Roma women. We can observe the traditional role of women, who, giving birth at a young age, have many children to raise. This traditional role is still present where residents live in an environment without perspective. Young Roma women who have fewer opportunities to work because of their home environment, start families at an earlier age: the old custom re-emerges. Preferring to become more educated, more and more women are breaking with the tradition of sacrificing their lives entirely for the family. Gender roles in the household are becoming less and less distinct as women work and husbands do their share of household chores. Despite the division of labour, women feel that their burdens have not diminished, and men with stronger traditional roots can experience this kind of change as a loss. Having more education contributes greatly to this change in roles, as the driving force of the community is no longer dominant, but rather individual goals. This provides an opportunity for self-realization and independent living. The aim of this publication is to present the changes in the social roles of Roma women over time, from those required by the traditional family model to more modern (contemporary) female roles.

Differences in anthropometric measures of the orbit between Serbian and Roma populations of the Central Serbia

Introduction/Objectives. The shape and size of the orbital cavity are important parameters in planning surgical interventions and have significance in anthropology and forensic medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the morphometric characteristics of orbital cavity in Serbian population and to examine if there are differences in examined parameters between Serbs and the Roma Community of Serbia. Methods. Using computer tomography and subsequent multiplanar reconstruction we analyzed orbits from 76 Serbian and 18 Roma healthy volunteers. There was no significant difference in age between the ethnicities. Results. The height and width of the left orbit and the height of the right orbit were significantly higher in Roma group, whereas the width of the right orbit was not statistically different between ethnicities. Orbital indices, however, for both left and right orbit did not significantly differ between Serbian and Roma examinees. Right orbital volume did not differ between the groups, but left orbits had significantly larger volumes in Roma population. Finally, biorbital and interorbital width were both significantly higher in Roma than in Serbian examinees. We could not show differences between sexes except for the biorbital width, which had lower values in Serbian, but not Roma women than in men. Conclusion. Taken together, our results indicate larger orbits, as well as greater distances between the eyes in Roma than in Serbian examinees.

Образ жінки в сучасній українській поезії (збірка Марії Маш “Сьогодні точно ні”)

The article examines the features of the image of a woman in the debut collection of Maria Mash from Lviv, «Today Definitely Not». It was found that this image does not fit into the thematic scheme: a lonely woman / a woman in love / a beloved woman. Because loneliness for the lyrical heroine is not the absence of a loved one, but the lack of understanding with him. Hence the need to find the exact word to describe feelings in order to form a common language of love. The image of a woman in M. Mash's collection is, at first glance, quite traditional (family welfare is in her hands, she rejoices in her husband's success and feels created for his happiness, and in her husband she sees her protection and partner for the «dance of life»). At the same time, this female image is individualized in the expression of emotions (for example, there are at least 14 types of love). Despite the fact that the woman in M. Mash's poetry is deeply feminine (she aspires to romance, has a chivalrous attitude towards herself, beauty and an ideal), she can only be called a romantic woman. Harmony in relationships is very important for the lyrical heroine, but no less weighty – the harmony of daily existence (so «today» is a whole life), a sense of inner balance and creative realization. Although the lyrical heroine of Maria Mash's debut collection invites her husband to dance, she does not allow him to control her thoughts and emotions. The woman from Maria Mash's poetry reveals herself to be self-sufficient, single-handedly changing the world for the better. The analysis of the image of a woman in the collection «Today Definitely Not» by Maria Mash proved the fundamental falsity of the binary opposition: «traditional/self-sufficient woman», which is common in feminist and gender studies.

Marital Status, Marital Transitions, and Sleep Quality in Mid to Late Life

Sleep is an important behavior in the prevention and management of chronic conditions in later life. Marital status may account for variability in sleep quality, but little is known about this association in the later part of life or how transitions into and out of marriage are related to changes in sleep quality. This study used the resource model and crisis model as frameworks to understand how marital status and marital transitions were related to sleep quality in mid to late life and whether these findings differed by gender. Interview data from 2,872 participants 50-74 years old (M=59.77 years; 63.7% women) from the ORANJ BOWL, a longitudinal panel study in New Jersey, were used. Marital status and sleep quality were examined in two waves approximately 10 years apart. All analyses controlled for health and sociodemographic characteristics. Weighted regressions revealed that individuals in committed romantic relationships and women had worse sleep quality than those in other marital status groups and men (p<.005). Weighted fixed effects regressions revealed that compared to individuals who remained married, individuals who remained divorced or widowed or who became widowed had better sleep quality, whereas those who became divorced had worse sleep quality (ps<.05); individuals who transitioned into marriage had better sleep quality than those who remained divorced or widowed (ps<.03). Findings differed depending on the index of sleep quality examined. Efforts to understand which middle-aged and older adults are most vulnerable to sleep disturbances can inform the design of interventions to promote better sleep quality.

Identity of Roma women and processes of international and transitional justice

Among the women involved in international legal environments, there are women who are administrators of justice, and women who remain as recipients, consumers or petitioners of justice. The question of identity, be it national, cultural, ethnic, religious or otherwise may become crucial when positioning human beings in one side of justice or another. This article seeks to analyse the formation of identities and the characteristics of Roma women’s identity and specifically their roles in international justice together with some actual European political stances towards the Roma peoples. Part of the study will take into account the sequence of processes that take place from the appointment of international judges to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, and that lead to the granting of a certain place for women in the transitional/international justice scene. Nevertheless, there are also groups of women who hardly participate in the international legal scene and, although their role has historically been, and still is, reduced to being victims, their possibilities of action in the field justice are extraordinarily limited. This is the case of Roma women in Europe.

Recent Articles

Recent Articles

Dépasser la frontière. La traduction des realia dans la version française de România pitorească d’Alexandru Vlahuță

Abstract This paper deals with the translation of cultural references in Alexandru Vlahuță’s book România pitorească. Indeed, this work is full of culture-specific items that require special attention and appropriate translation strategies to preserve all the linguistic savour of the source text. This translation, carried out by Mărgărita Miller- Verghy – one the few Romanian women translators –, will be analysed in order to study the difficulties raised by the translation of those realia and the solutions provided. In the same way, we will show to what extent the cultural boundaries are permeable.

Post-Migration Fertility in Southern Europe: Romanian and Moroccan women in Italy and Spain

This paper seeks to analyse migrant women’s reproductive behaviour in two countries with the lowest fertility rates, namely, Italy and Spain. We assess differences in migrant fertility patterns according to country of origin by comparing the post-migration motherhood of Moroccan and Romanian women. We have used data from the “2007 National Immigrant Survey” (INE) and the ”2011-2012 Survey on Social Integration and Condition among Foreign Citizens” (ISTAT) to adopt an event-history approach to the factors that affect the birth of the first child after migration. Specifically, we focus on marital status upon arrival and on the number of previous children, controlling in turn for the women’s socioeconomic circumstances. The results show, firstly, that Moroccan women have a higher fertility rate than Romanians in both countries. Secondly, the risk of the first birth shortly after migration is higher among childless and married women, and this probability remain high even for women from Morocco with children. Thirdly a cross-country comparison reveals that the results related to childbearing patterns are similar.

Entertainment outreach projects without losing scientific content: A Neolithic puppet show by senior citizens and Roma women

In this work, we present the genesis, development, and results of a set of inclusive outreach activities developed through a puppet theatre play about the Neolithic. We present our methodology and techniques for outreach activities, showing the advantages of collaborative work and bottom-up approaches. The text also explains how the initiative was born and how the contacts for its realization consolidated. All the activities were carried out with the utmost care for the scientific content since it is essential that the public comes to understand all the archaeological information and differentiates it from the entertaining and dramatic elements.

CVD Risk Factors in the Ukrainian Roma and Meta-Analysis of Their Prevalence in Roma Populations Worldwide.

The Roma population suffers from severe poverty, social exclusion, and some of the worst health conditions in the industrialized world. Herein, we report on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the Ukrainian Roma and present a meta-analysis of the prevalence of CVD risk factors in 16 Roma populations worldwide. The meta-analyses of CVD risk factors in Roma (n = 16,552) vs. non-Roma majority population of the same country (n = 127,874) included publicly available data. Ukrainian field survey included 339 adults of both sexes and outcomes of interest were hypertension, body mass index (BMI), smoking, education, and employment status. Furthermore, 35.7% of the Ukrainian Roma were hypertensive, 69.3% unemployed, and 48.4% never went to school. Ukrainian Roma women were more likely to be underweight and more prone to be hypertensive, with odds of hypertension increasing with age, BMI, and positive smoking status. Meta-analyses showed that, in comparison with non-Roma worldwide, the Roma bear significantly higher risk factor loads related to smoking (OR = 2.850), diabetes (OR = 1.433), abdominal obesity (OR = 1.276), and metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.975), with lower loads for hypertension (OR = 0.607) and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (OR = 0.872). To conclude, the CVD risk factors which are more common in Roma than in the majority population may reflect their poor health-related behaviors and inadequate access to health education.

CER 1 gene polymorphism in postmenopausal Roma and non-Roma Slovak women in connection with osteoporosis.

The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between the rs74434454 polymorphism of the CER1 gene and selected biochemical, densitometric and anthropometric markers in Slovak postmenopausal women of two ethnic groups: Roma and non-Roma. The scientific study included 303 postmenopausal women of the non-Roma and Roma populations who were divided into two groups based on densitometric measurements: control group (CG) and osteoporotic group (OG). Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood using a commercial NucleoSpin® Blood kit following a standard protocol. The TaqMan Real-Time PCR method was used for genotyping. Biochemical markers were measured with Cobas e411 and Cobas Integra400 plus analysers. In the control group of postmenopausal Roma women, the occurrence of the risk genotype GG was not observed. In the group of Roma women with osteopenia and osteoporosis, the GG genotype occurred at a frequency of 3.03%. In the group of non-Roma women (between CG and OG) statistically significant differences were found in all monitored biochemical markers except CTx-I (p<0.66). In contrast, in the group of Roma women, statistical significance was only found in the osteoresorption marker CTx-I (p<0.007). In the population of Roma women, we did not find a statistically significant difference between the AA, AG and GG genotypes in any of the monitored markers. The results provide the first and unique insight on the distribution of genotypes and alleles of the rs74434454 CER1 gene polymorphism and its relationship to markers of bone metabolism in two ethnically distinct groups.