IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i9p5524-d807429.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Connecting Roma Communities in COVID-19 Times: The First Roma Women Students’ Gathering Held Online

Author

Listed:
  • Emilia Aiello

    (Department of Sociology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Andrea Khalfaoui

    (Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Xavier Torrens

    (Department of Political Science, Constitutional Law and Law Philosophy, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Ramón Flecha

    (Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

COVID-19 has exacerbated the vulnerability of the Roma communities in Europe. However, these communities have a strong sense of resilience, and the role of Roma women must be highlighted since they have historically nurtured solidarity networks even in the most challenging situations. Aim: A particular action organized by a Roma Association of Women is analyzed: the Roma Women Students’ Gathering (RWSG, or gathering). In its 19th edition, this democratic space aimed at tackling the challenges the pandemic has raised and its impact on the Roma communities. Method: The 19th RWSG, which was the first one held online, was inductively analyzed to gain a deeper understanding of the key aspects that the Roma women highlight when they organize themselves. Results: RWSG generates optimal conditions where Roma women identify the challenges affecting their community and, drawing on the dialogues shared, agree on strategies to contest them. RWSG also enhanced solidarity interactions that enabled the conquering of the virtual space, transforming it into an additional space where the Roma could help each other and thus better navigate the uncertainties unleashed by COVID-19. Key features of the Roma culture emerged in these spaces of solidarity, such as protecting the elderly and prioritizing community wellbeing rather than only the individual’s preferences. Conclusions: Roma women play a key role in weaving an organized response to the uncertainty derived from COVID-19, and connecting them to the public sphere, potentially achieving social and political impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Emilia Aiello & Andrea Khalfaoui & Xavier Torrens & Ramón Flecha, 2022. "Connecting Roma Communities in COVID-19 Times: The First Roma Women Students’ Gathering Held Online," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5524-:d:807429
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5524/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5524/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Benjamin Cook & Geoffrey Wayne & Anne Valentine & Anna Lessios & Ethan Yeh, 2013. "Revisiting the evidence on health and health care disparities among the Roma: a systematic review 2003–2012," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(6), pages 885-911, December.
    2. Eun Jung Bae & Ju Young Yoon, 2021. "Health Literacy as a Major Contributor to Health-Promoting Behaviors among Korean Teachers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-16, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Paula Abella & Adriana Aubert & María Virginia Matulič & Ariadna Munté-Pascual, 2024. "Roma Women’s Role in the Health Preservation of Their Communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Lidia Puigvert & Marta Soler-Gallart & Ana Vidu, 2022. "From Bystanders to Upstanders: Supporters and Key Informants for Victims of Gender Violence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    3. Laura Ruiz-Eugenio & Ariadna Munte-Pascual & Andrea Khalfaoui & Olga Serradell, 2023. "Dialogic scientific gatherings with mothers and teachers from a primary school: raising awareness about the impact of gender and education research," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Beatriz Villarejo Carballido & Javier Díez-Palomar & Carme Garcia-Yeste & Ane Olabarria Morejón, 2024. "The effects of children’s participation and co-creation in science," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Ane López de Aguileta, 2024. "Contributions from Research with (and Not without) Roma Women to Social Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Almudena Macías León & Natalia Del Pino-Brunet, 2023. "The Vulnerability of European Roma to the Socioeconomic Crisis Triggered by the COVID-19 Pandemic," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-12, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Benjamin Lê Cook & Ana Progovac & Nathaniel Tran, 2019. "Improving the mental health of Roma through research and policies that cross multiple social sectors," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(7), pages 979-980, September.
    2. Jelena Čvorović & Kathryn Coe, 2017. "Reproductive Investment and Health Costs in Roma Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Sandra Stanković & Saša Živić & Aleksandra Ignjatović & Mariola Stojanović & Dragan Bogdanović & Sonja Novak & Jelena Vučić & Miodrag Stanković & Ljiljana Šaranac & Cvetković Vesna & Predrag Miljković, 2016. "Comparison of weight and length at birth of non-Roma and Roma newborn in Serbia," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(1), pages 69-73, January.
    4. Marisa Usera-Clavero & Diana Gil-González & Daniel La Parra-Casado & Carmen Vives-Cases & Pilar Carrasco-Garrido & Pablo Caballero, 2020. "Inequalities in the use of gynecological visits and preventive services for breast and cervical cancer in Roma women in Spain," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(3), pages 273-280, April.
    5. Ioanna Petraki & Natasa Kalpourtzi & Agapios Terzidis & Magda Gavana & Apostolos Vantarakis & Georgios Rachiotis & Argiro Karakosta & Vana Sypsa & Giota Touloumi & Hprolipsis Study Group, 2021. "Living in Roma Settlements in Greece: Self-Perceived Health Status, Chronic Diseases and Associated Social Determinants of Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
    6. Michalis Koureas & Matthaios Speletas & Zacharoula Bogogiannidou & Dimitris Babalis & Vassilios Pinakas & Ourania Pinaka & Apostolos Komnos & Stella Tsoutsa & Georgia Papadamou & Maria A. Kyritsi & Al, 2021. "Transmission Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 during an Outbreak in a Roma Community in Thessaly, Greece—Control Measures and Lessons Learned," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-13, March.
    7. Belak, Andrej & Filakovska Bobakova, Daniela & Madarasova Geckova, Andrea & van Dijk, Jitse P. & Reijneveld, Sijmen A., 2020. "Why don't health care frontline professionals do more for segregated Roma? Exploring mechanisms supporting unequal care practices," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    8. Mario Battaglini & Tania Burchardt & Polina Obolenskaya & Polly Vizard, 2018. "Experience of multiple disadvantage among Roma, Gypsy and Traveller children in England and Wales," CASE Papers /208, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    9. Bianca Ioana Todor & Ioana Scrobota & Liana Todor & Alexandra Ioana Lucan & Luminita Ligia Vaida, 2019. "Environmental Factors Associated with Malocclusion in Children Population from Mining Areas, Western Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-16, September.
    10. Daniela Antolová & Martin Janičko & Monika Halánová & Peter Jarčuška & Andrea Madarasová Gecková & Ingrid Babinská & Zuzana Kalinová & Daniel Pella & Mária Mareková & Eduard Veseliny & HepaMeta Team, 2018. "Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in the Roma and Non-Roma Inhabitants of Slovakia: A Cross-Sectional Seroprevalence Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-9, February.
    11. Andrej Belak & Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska & Andrea Madarasova Geckova & Jitse P. van Dijk & Sijmen A. Reijneveld, 2017. "How Well Do Health-Mediation Programs Address the Determinants of the Poor Health Status of Roma? A Longitudinal Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, December.
    12. Daniela E. Miranda & Manuel Garcia-Ramirez & Fabricio E. Balcazar & Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar, 2019. "A Community-Based Participatory Action Research for Roma Health Justice in a Deprived District in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-22, October.
    13. Daniel La Parra-Casado & Paola A. Mosquera & Carmen Vives-Cases & Miguel San Sebastian, 2018. "Socioeconomic Inequalities in the Use of Healthcare Services: Comparison between the Roma and General Populations in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, January.
    14. María Sanz-Remacha & Alberto Aibar & Ángel Abós & Eduardo Generelo-Lanaspa & Luis García-González, 2022. "A Community-Based Participatory Action Research with Women from Disadvantaged Populations: Strengths and Weaknesses of a Multiple Health Behaviour Change Intervention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-20, June.
    15. Branislav Šprocha & Branislav Bleha, 2021. "Mortality, Health Status and Self-Perception of Health in Slovak Roma Communities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 1065-1086, February.
    16. Escobar-Ballesta, M. & García-Ramírez, M. & De Freitas, C., 2018. "Taking stock of Roma health policies in Spain: Lessons for health governance," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(4), pages 444-451.
    17. Bosiljka Djikanovic & Željka Stamenkovic & Vesna Bjegovic Mikanovic & Dejana Vukovic & Vladimir S. Gordeev & Natasa Maksimovic, 2018. "Negative attitudes related to violence against women: gender and ethnic differences among youth living in Serbia," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(8), pages 923-932, November.
    18. Adriana Sudzinova & Jaroslav Rosenberger & Roy E. Stewart & Jitse P. Dijk & Sijmen A. Reijneveld, 2016. "Does poorer self-rated health mediate the effect of Roma ethnicity on mortality in patients with coronary artery disease after coronaro-angiography?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(3), pages 375-382, April.
    19. János Sándor & Zsigmond Kósa & Klára Boruzs & Julianna Boros & Ildikó Tokaji & Martin McKee & Róza Ádány, 2017. "The decade of Roma Inclusion: did it make a difference to health and use of health care services?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(7), pages 803-815, September.
    20. Jelena Brcanski & Aleksandra Jović-Vraneš & Jelena Marinković & Dragana Favre, 2014. "Social determinants of malnutrition among Serbian children aged >5 years: ethnic and regional disparities," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(5), pages 697-706, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5524-:d:807429. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.