Roma Women Research Articles

Social Media Campaigns: A Game Changer for the Prevention of Breast Cancer in Romania.

Social media can be used to raise awareness about health issues, especially concerning the importance of periodical screening. The present study aims to identify the role of social media awareness campaigns in the early detection of breast cancer, with a focus on Romania, a country with a high female mortality due to this disease. The research is performed using a survey, based on an online questionnaire, which was self-administered by the respondents included in two samples selected from a Facebook community of Romanian women. Sample A was composed of 1945 women who were not exposed to periodic campaigns regarding the importance of screening for the prevention and early detection of this type of disease, and Sample B was composed of 289 women who were exposed to such annual campaigns within the last 5 years. The results outline several differences among respondents from the two samples regarding their awareness of prevention necessity, as well as the frequency and chosen methods for breast cancer screening. The findings hold important implications for public authorities, which must intensify their efforts in raising women's awareness regarding the importance of screening for the early detection and prevention of breast cancer.

TCF7L2 Polymorphism rs7903146 (C/T) and Gestational Diabetes Influence on Obstetric Outcome: A Romanian Case-Control Study.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most frequent predictors of obstetric outcome among Romanian pregnant women. Thus, we aimed to investigate the role of rs7903146 (C/T) TCF7L2 gene polymorphism in the presence of GDM and to evaluate the influence on maternal-fetal outcomes in a cohort of pregnant women from Northern Transylvania. Our prospective case-control study was performed in a tertiary maternity center on 61 patients diagnosed with GDM and 55 normal pregnant patients. The patients were genotyped for rs7903146 (C/T) polymorphism of the TCF7L2 gene using the PCR-RFLP method between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. The minor T allele was associated with a high risk of developing GDM (OR 1.71 [95% CI 0.82-3.59]) if both heterozygote and homozygote types were considered. Also, a higher risk of developing GDM was observed in homozygous carriers (OR 3.26 [95% CI 1.10-9.68]). Women with the TT genotype were more likely to require insulin therapy during pregnancy than other genotypes with a 5.67-fold increased risk ([1.61-19.97], p = 0.015). TT homozygote type was significantly associated with fetal macrosomia for birth weights greater than the 95th percentile (p = 0.034). The homozygous TT genotype is associated with an increased risk of developing GDM. Also, rs7903146 (C/T) TCF7L2 variant is accompanied by a high probability of developing insulin-dependent gestational diabetes mellitus (ID-GDM). The presence of at least one minor T allele was associated with a higher risk of fetal macrosomia.

Feministyczne i kolektywne artywizmy

The author describes the activities of female artists who co-found independent theater collectives that practice feminist artivism and sisterhood in various ways. Their actions are an active expression of opposition to violations of women’s rights, racism, classism, gender discrimination and top-down identity politics. In each of the cases described, the motivation for artivism is not only violence, but more importantly, the question: what ideas and values do female artists-activists advocate for? The methodological framework for the article is feminist theory (primarily the thought of Sara Ahmed), focusing on the everyday practice of feminism, which includes an awareness of intersectionality, an acknowledgment of one’s own privileges, and a desire to create more ethical and just realities. Key-words: feminism, artivism, feminist movement, Afghan women, Ukrainian women, Roma women

Human Skills and Roman Women. Proposals for Humanistic Education

Despite societal assumptions, women in ancient Rome actively participated in public discussions and policy-making, taking on leadership roles that contributed to developing educational and employment opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. The leadership characteristics of Roman women in civic institutions, which differed from those of Roman men or non-Roman women, have yet to be studied in academic literature. The article explores what we have identified as dialogical traits in the leadership of Roman social and political action. We define these traits as ‘dialogical’ because they are built upon and have emerged from equal and intersubjective dialogue between Roman women and their communities. These traits involve leadership assumed relationally, seen as a collective responsibility, developed with others. The focus is on shared values and identity, with a profound understanding of the necessity for intergenerational solidarity to drive organisational action. Competenze umane e donne romane. Proposte per l’educazione umanistica. A prescindere da ciò che la società tradizionale ritiene, le donne romane sono coinvolte nel dibattito pubblico e nella definizione delle politiche, assumendo un ruolo di leadership nella creazione di opportunità di istruzione e di lavoro per loro stesse, per le loro famiglie e per le loro comunità. I tratti specifici del tipo di leadership sviluppata ed esercitata dalle donne romane nelle istituzioni civiche, rispetto al tipo di leadership esercitata dagli uomini romani o dalle donne non romane, sono ancora poco studiati nella letteratura accademica. L’articolo introduce e discute quelli che abbiamo identificato come tratti dialogici nella leadership delle donne romane quando sono impegnate nell’azione sociale e politica. Definiamo questi tratti “dialogici”, in quanto costruiti ed emersi sulla base di un dialogo paritario e intersoggettivo tra le donne romane e le loro comunità. La leadership relazionale, come responsabilità collettiva costruita con gli altri, incentrata sui valori e sull’identità condivisa dei Romani con una forte intuizione della necessità di solidarietà intergenerazionale tra loro come motore dell’azione organizzativa.

Intimate Partner Violence and Formal Help-Seeking in Spain: Comparing Experiences of Spanish and Immigrant Women

In Spain, 17.23% of the population is immigrant. In Madrid area, it rises to 20.96%, being Latin American and Romanian origin the most prevalent. Data indicate that intimate partner violence (IPV) is higher in immigrant than in Spanish women, although they seem to make less use of specialized services. This study aims to identify the characteristics of knowledge and use of specialized IPV services and related variables between Spanish, Romanian, and Latin American women with lifetime IPV in Spain. An anonymous, self-administered survey was applied to a stratified sample of residents aged over 16 in Coslada (Madrid, Spain), where there is a large immigrant population (18.78%). Data from 280 women showed higher recognized lifetime IPV for immigrants (62.1%) than for natives (48%) (p < .05). However, not even half (48.7%) of them used any of the services assessed (without significant differences by origin); Romanians showed more judicialized processes. Use of services was related to having children or IPV severity, among other variables. Results point out the need to consider the influence of the context of immigrant women on their help-seeking behavior and increase awareness and training among professionals. Further research is required about the specific needs of women from different countries.

Correlation between high-risk HPV infection and p16/Ki-67 abnormalities in Pap samples in a South Eastern Europe cohort.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths amongst women worldwide. CC represents a major global healthcare issue, and Romania ranks the worst in mortality rates amongst EU countries. However, the early detection of CC can be lifesaving. To understand the testing process undergone by women in Romania, we performed a retrospective study, and investigated a cohort of 83 785 cervical cases from Romanian women aged 15-70, obtained in private-based opportunistic screening. We examined the correlation between Pap smear results, human papilloma virus (HPV) genotyping, and the expression of cell cycle markers p16 and Ki-67. Analysis of Pap results revealed approximately 10% abnormal cases, of which high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesionsconstituted 4.9%. HPV genotyping of 12 185 cases with available Pap results unveiled a range of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) types associated with cervical abnormalities. Notably, 26% of hrHPV-positive cases showed no observable abnormalities. In a subset of cases with abnormal Pap and a type of hrHPV, P16/Ki-67 double-staining was also positive. This study suggests the importance of an integrated diagnostic algorithm that should consider the HPV genotype, Pap smear, and p16/Ki-67 staining. This algorithm should enhance the CC screening accuracy and its management strategies, particularly in those regions with a high disease burden, such as Romania.

Menarche and reproductive health in Spanish Roma women from a reproductive justice perspective: a qualitative study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the perceptions of Roma women about their experience of menarche and reproductive health considering the principles of reproductive justice.DesignQualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with Roma women ages 18 through 67 in different neighborhoods in the southeast of Spain. Using a thematic analysis, we analyzed experiences related to menarche and menstruation and their significance for reproductive health, the preparation for the phase of menarche and intergenerational support.ResultsThe Roma women interviewed shared their approach to the experiences of menarche and menstruation as children in their family environments with a focus on access to information provided by other women in the family and community for reproductive health management. In their discourses we observed that the onset of menstruation supposes a rupture in the public and private spaces of girls and women.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that women and girls do not gain access to information that contributes to their reproductive wellbeing through their experience of menarche. Access to resources and skills to manage biological changes in adolescents could contribute to reducing the impact of cultural myths, false ideas and taboos that prevent advocacy and empowerment on issues of reproductive justice.

Romanian transnational families: insights from a qualitative study on care workers

PurposeAn increasing number of international immigrant workers enter the EU labour market to fill the gap in many key economic sectors. Labour migration often implies a process of family adaptation and, in some cases, a breakdown in the community structure and networks. This study aims to provide insights into the dynamics of transnational families, focusing on changes in the redefinition of roles within family members and children care arrangements.Design/methodology/approachThe study was based on the analysis of 12 biographical interviews conducted using semi-structured interviews between November 2018 and December 2019 among Romanian women who worked as caregivers in families in an Italian metropolitan city and the surrounding urban area.FindingsDespite the economic dimension being essential, psychological well-being increasingly burdens workers’ migratory experience and that of their family members. Findings suggest including employers and children among the actively involved actors of the family decision-making process; working and contractual conditions as factors that significantly impact the opportunities and capability of workers to provide and receive care, mainly if the latter are employed in the informal market.Originality/valueThe study makes it possible to highlight that the dynamics in decision-making processes in transnational families change in the different phases of the migration project and involve numerous actors. These processes are not always rational and are strongly influenced by the labour market structure in which migrants are employed.

Teresa, Josefa y Antonia, escrituras románticas en solterías para la liberación de todas

"This research, about women writers from the 19th century, times of the emergence of the Mexican nation, rescues the rich literature of three single women. Teresa Vera, from the Southeast Region, Josefa Murillo, from Veracruz, and Antonia Vallejo from The Pearl of the West, write and publish despite the patriarchal mandate for domesticity to remain as “The Fair Sex”: get married to take care of husband and children. The singleness of these three Mexican romantics, our first writers, will support today’s Women liberation exalting freedom and the emotions and subjectivity of romanticism, to contradict the popular saying: “A woman who knows Latin neither finds a husband nor has a good end”.Keywords: Single women writers; femenine singleness; Mexican romantic women; “The Fair Sex”; women’s liberation"

Nocet esse feracem: An Ecofeminist Analysis of the Pseudo-Ovidian Nux

The Nux depicts the complaints of a walnut tree, pelted with stones and beaten with rods when she bears fruit. Discussion of the Nux, however, has largely centred on its authorship. Recognising its deep engagement with Ovid’s work, this article sets aside the question of authorship and takes a critical ecofeminist approach to explore the poem’s concerns with fertility, nature, the female, and violence. It argues that the walnut tree is feminised and humanised so that her complaints that fertility brings pain and her criticism of trees who sabotage their fertility to be beautiful have meaning for Roman women, and in particular for those women living under the Principate. It aims to demonstrate that the Nux figures the domination of nature and the oppression of women as outcomes of the same harmful ideology.

Contributions from Research with (and Not without) Roma Women to Social Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Scientific literature has evidenced that some social work practices and research tend to foster assimilation and silence ethnic minorities. In the case of Roma, previous research has shown that many social welfare practices do not consider their voices and end up in actions for surveillance and control over social transformation. However, the successful practices in social work with the Roma population that overcome these limitations remain underexplored. This work contributes to this gap in the scientific literature by uncovering one key criterion of some successful actions in this regard. Through the communicative methodology, six women’s focus groups and 30 life stories were conducted. In total, this included 47 Roma women and 33 Roma men from three different Spanish regions, as well as interviews with 30 professionals from education, social services, and civic organizations. The results from the studied context present evidence of a main successful criterion in some social work practices: the inclusion of scientific evidence in the intervention with co-creation with the end-users through egalitarian dialogue. That is, in this context, through the use of scientific evidence together with the co-creation process, the results were very positive.

“Care Drain” from East to West: The Narrative of Romanian Women Migrant Working in the Italian Domestic Care Sector

This study employs a qualitative methodology to investigate the implications of Romanian women’s migration to Italy for employment in the domestic care sector. The research is based on in‐depth interviews conducted face to face with 20 Romanian women who have resided in Italy for over a decade, with the aim of capturing the details of their long‐term integration processes. These interviews, conducted in 2022, specifically focus on the participants’ lived experiences of migration and adaptation within the Italian context. Findings reveal that economic motivations are a primary driver intertwined with aspirations for personal and familial advancement. However, the research also highlights the challenges faced by these women, including precarious employment conditions, emotional strain due to family separation, and complexities of integration within the host society. Social networks and transnational ties emerge as crucial factors influencing both the decision to migrate and the subsequent adaptation process. The analysis underscores the duality inherent in care work migration: While it bolsters the Italian care economy and offers economic opportunities for the migrants, it simultaneously exposes them to vulnerabilities such as job insecurity and potential exploitation. By investigating this migration of care workers, the research contributes to the field of welfare economics by clarifying the economic ramifications of gendered occupational segregation and migration status. Furthermore, it advocates for implementing inclusive labour market practices and policies that prioritize the well‐being of migrant care workers and facilitate their successful integration into host societies.

Assessing disparities in health and living conditions: a comparative study of Hungarian-speaking Roma and non-Roma women across Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

The Roma minority, Europe's largest ethnic minority, experiences significant disparities in living conditions and health outcomes compared to the non-Roma populations across the continent. Despite extensive documentation of the socio-economic challenges faced by the Roma, there is a notable lack of comparative research. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the differences in socio-economic characteristics, living conditions, and self-reported health status between Roma (R) and non-Roma (nR) women in in Hungary (HU), Romania (RO), and Slovakia (SK), providing a cross-country comparative analysis. Utilizing simple and multiple binary logistic models, our research analysed data collected from September 2020 to March 2022, involving 322 Roma and 294 non-Roma women in Hungary, 258 Roma and 183 non-Roma women in Romania, and 146 Roma and 163 non-Roma women in Slovakia. Findings indicate significant associations between increased age (R:OR = 1.04[1.02,1.06], p < 0.001), (nR:OR = 1.04[1.02,1.05], p < 0.001) lower financial situation (R:OR = 2.05[1.01,4.18], p = 0.048) (nR:OR = 1.67[1.01,2.77], p = 0.047), and basic education level (R:OR = 3.60[1.29,10.08], p = 0.015) (nR:OR = 3.64[1.77,7.51], p < 0.001) with the likelihood of poor health status across both groups in Hungary. In Romania, increased age (OR = 1.04[1.02,1.06], p < 0.001) and basic education level (OR = 5.24[2.29,11.99], p < 0.001) were particularly predictive of poor health among non-Roma, while in Slovakia, age (OR = 1.05[1.02,1.07], p < 0.001) was a significant factor for Roma, and intermediate education level (OR = 2.68[1.16,6.20], p = 0.021) was for non-Roma. The study also found that a higher number of children (HU:OR = 1.35[1.12,1.63], p = 0.002), (RO:OR = 1.57[1.25,1.96], p < 0.001) and problems with housing comfort (RO:OR = 4.83[2.19,10.62], p = 0.015) and wall conditions (RO:OR = 2.81[1.22,6.46], p < 0.001) significantly impacted the health status of non-Roma women in Hungary and Romania. Conversely, an increase in household size was associated with a better health status among Roma women in Hungary (OR = 0.88[0.79,0.99]) and Slovakia (OR = 0.78[0.61,0.99]). By offering a novel comparative analysis, this study highlights the critical need for focused attention on the health disparities faced by Roma women, particularly those in a multiply disadvantaged situation due to their ethnic and socio-economic status.

РОМСЬКІ ЖІНКИ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ: ЕТНОКУЛЬТУРНІ КОНТЕКСТИ РОЛІ ЖІНКИ І ЖІНОЧОГО ЛІДЕРСТВА В УКРАЇНСЬКОМУ СУСПІЛЬСТВІ

The article is devoted to the topical aspects of Ukraine's current state policy on supporting national minorities in the context of a full-scale war. On the basis of social and legal principles, fundamental norms and re-quirements for the development of a democratic community, the author examines the problematic issues of state participation in the socio-cultural sphere of national minority development (education, housing, health care, employment, social security, etc.) in Ukraine. Based on the analysis of a wide range of scientific studies of recent decades, it is established that in recent years, the state's attention to the Roma as an organic ethnic community in the multicultural space of Ukraine has successfully synergized the efforts of Roma civic activists, non-governmental organizations and local authorities. At the same time, one of the problems with integrating existing programs to support Roma mediators in various socio-cultural spheres into national government programs is the inadequate assessment of the role of women in the self-organization of territorial communities where Roma live compactly and their involvement in solving local issues. The article emphasizes the growth of the leadership potential of Roma women and their outstanding role in socially useful activities and positive impact on the overall development of territorial communities in times of war. Given the circumstances of the Ukrainian present, the author concludes that there is a great social need and expediency of applying mechanisms and tools of organizational and managerial innovations to motivate the most active involvement of Roma women leaders and activists in cooperation with the authorities in the emergency conditions of war and to study this problem in detail by means of social sciences and humanities. The article identifies ways and mechanisms for solving the current problems of the Roma community and defines the role of women's leadership in Ukrainian society.

BREAST CANCER SCREENING IN ROMANIA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY DETECTION.

Breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most common type of cancer globally, representing approximately 25% of all cancer cases and leading in cancer-related mortality among women. In Romania, breast cancer accounts for 26.9% of all female cancer diagnoses, with an increasing incidence and significant mortality rate despite one of the lowest incidence rates in Europe. The study highlights the disparities in breast cancer outcomes across Europe, with Romania showing lower survival rates compared to Western European countries. This disparity is partly attributed to the low participation in breast cancer screening programs, where only 9% of eligible Romanian women underwent mammography in 2020, far below the European average of 60%. The World Health Organization (WHO) and European Commission emphasize the importance of organized population-based screening for women aged 50-69, yet many barriers, including low health literacy, lack of awareness, and socio-economic challenges, hinder effective participation, especially among vulnerable populations. This study, conducted over three years at the "Alessandrescu Rusescu " National Institute for Mother and Child Health, involved 1,705 patients and aims to provide insights into improving breast cancer screening participation and outcomes in Romania.

Screening attendance disparities among Hungarian-speaking Roma and non-Roma women in central and eastern European countries.

The Roma populations in Central and Eastern Europe are two to three times more likely to have unmet health needs compared to non-Roma residents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the disparity in screening attendance between Hungarian-speaking Roma (R) and non-Roma (nR) women in Hungary (HU-R:322; nR:294), Romania (RO-R:258; nR:183), and Slovakia (SK-R:146; nR:163), while also identifying the factors that influence attendance at any kind of screening tests in both populations. In order to examine these factors, a multiple binary logistic regression was conducted. The findings revealed significant associations between attendance at any kind of screening tests and certain factors among different groups. Among Hungarian Roma women, it was found that having a chronic disease and smoking were linked to attendance at any kind of screening tests (p = 0.009). Specifically, having a chronic disease increased the odds of attendance (OR = 1.71 [1.01, 2.90]), while smoking decreased the odds (OR = 0.57[0.365, 0.91]). In Romania, the study found that not having health insurance decreased the odds of attendance among Roma women (OR = 0.50 [0.27, 0.91]), whereas having a chronic disease increased the odds (OR = 2.87 [1.44, 5.72]) (p = 0.006). Among non-Roma women in Romania, physical inactivity was associated with a decreased likelihood of attendance at any kind of screening tests (OR = 0.48 [0.25, 0.95]). Among Slovakian Roma women, not having health insurance (OR = 0.09[0.02, 0.36]) and smoking (OR = 0.25[0.11, 0.61]) were found to decrease the odds of attendance (p < 0.001). On the other hand, non-Roma women in Slovakia with chronic diseases were more likely to attend at any kind of screening tests (OR = 2.52[1.12, 5.66]). Our research emphasizes the impact of lacking health insurance on screening attendance, particularly among the Roma population. It also highlights the significance of health-related behaviours such as smoking and physical inactivity in relation to missed screening tests, which in turn contribute to the development of non-communicable diseases. Therefore, promoting targeted screening programs for the Roma community is crucial to ensure their access to screening tests, especially in cases of chronic illnesses.

« Le moelleux, la chaleur, ce sont les femmes ! » : figures de femme dans Il pleut dans ma maison et Off et la lune de Paul Willems

“The softness, the warmth, these are the women!”: female figures in Il pleut dans ma maison and Off et la lune by Paul Willems Paul Willems, 20th-century Belgian playwright, did not shy away from showing many female figures in his plays, and he did so with great attention to detail. Through a thorough analysis, of the following plays : Il pleut dans ma maison and Off et la lune, it is possible to draw analogies between the heroines he created, which might allow to identify the topoi most often used by the Belgian playwright. We used the historical method, notably the selection, fusion, interpretation and ordering of facts. In addition, the method of literature analysis with particular emphasis on the analysis of source texts and the comparative method were used. Based on the analysis carried out, we established that the following topoi of women appear in the two Willems’ plays selected for analysis: a woman as an incomprehensible being, a romantic woman, a traditional woman and a liberated woman.

Правова політика щодо домашнього насильства в окремих етнонаціональних групах (на прикладі ромів)

The article is devoted to the study of the legal problem of domestic violence in certain ethno-national groups on the example of the Roma by determining the peculiarities of the status of Roma women and presenting proposals for legal regulation of the problem. It has been proven that women of the Roma national minority are in a special risk group of becoming victims of domestic violence. Deeply rooted in social and cultural norms, domestic violence remains one of the most urgent and complex problems of our time. The following characteristic features of domestic violence in Roma groups are identified, which are determined by social and cultural and mental factors of the life of this national minority: Roma women can experience violence from a wide group of men of the entire Roma community; domestic violence is provoked by a special way of managing the economy, lack of proper infrastructure and living conditions; Roma remain one of the poorest groups in modern society, which is an additional factor in domestic violence; Roma women are characterized by cross-discrimination (multi-discrimination) on several grounds; social alienation and isolation of Roma causes a low level of education, fear of public authorities, mistrust of the law enforcement and judicial system. The author proposed changes to the legislation. In particular, the update of the national strategy for promoting the realization of the rights and opportunities of persons belonging to the Roma national minority in Ukrainian society for the period up to 2030. It is proposed to define additional goal #9, which consists in overcoming the problem of domestic violence in Roma communities and ensuring gender inequality of women of the Roma national minority. To fulfill this goal, specific tasks are proposed, In the conclusion, it is noted that the fight against domestic violence is the task of every member of the global community, since only unified single-centered efforts can create conditions for an optimal combination of managerial, legal, cultural, public interests in the context of their integration into social reality and overcoming negative social problems that provoke deviant behavior.

Women Entrepreneurs from Craiova in the Interwar Period

"In the present material, there was intended the presentation of some of the Romanian women entrepreneurs who developed sole partnership businesses in Craiova, in the interwar period, as they were recorded in the archival documents and in different edited sources. We notice that most entrepreneurs were housewives, they set up companies whose activities are handled by their husbands and, sometimes, their fathers, or a qualified person (he had a certificate) designated by proxy, but also people who had worked as commercial officials, gained experience working in commercial units, and who opened their own businesses. Analyzing the files of the companies registered with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Craiova, and registered in the Trade Register, we identified several profiles of the woman trader in Craiova: having her own business; as guardian of the minor heirs; after her husband’s bankruptcy; as a result of the death of the spouse; as heiress."

An evaluation of early marriage and the mental state of Roma women: A cross-sectional study.

Early marriage (i.e., at less than 18 years of age) is a significant global problem threatening the well-being of women. This cross-sectional study evaluated early marriage and the mental health of Roma women in Adana, Turkey. Data were collected between March 2019 and September 2019 using the Descriptive Characteristics Form and the Brief Symptom Inventory. We interviewed 272 married Roma women over 18 years of age, of whom 59.6% (n = 162) had married before the age of 18 years; of these, 14.2% had done so before the age of 15. Significant positive correlations were found between the duration of the marriage and measures of interpersonal sensitivity, somatization, depression, anxiety, phobia, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, and the Global Severity Index in the women who had married early. Among women who married after 18, the duration of marriage had a significant positive relationship with somatization and phobic anxiety. Early marriage and a longer duration of marriage were associated with more symptoms of psychological distress.