The document discusses the history and current situation of the Roma people in the Czech Republic. It describes how the Roma originated in India and migrated to Europe in the 9th century, arriving in the Czech Republic in the 15th century. They have faced long-standing persecution and discrimination, including being legally targeted for killing in the 17th century. Today, Roma people still face issues with low education levels, high unemployment, reliance on welfare, and discrimination in multiple areas of life. The document focuses on the particular challenges faced by Roma women, who experience discrimination both within their communities and from broader Czech society.
The document discusses the history and current situation of the Roma people in the Czech Republic. It describes how the Roma originated in India and migrated to Europe in the 9th century, arriving in the Czech Republic in the 15th century. They have faced long-standing persecution and discrimination, including being legally targeted for killing in the 17th century. Today, Roma people still face issues with low education levels, high unemployment, reliance on welfare, and discrimination in multiple areas of life. The document focuses on the particular challenges faced by Roma women, who experience discrimination both within their communities and from broader Czech society.
The document discusses the history and current situation of the Roma people in the Czech Republic. It describes how the Roma originated in India and migrated to Europe in the 9th century, arriving in the Czech Republic in the 15th century. They have faced long-standing persecution and discrimination, including being legally targeted for killing in the 17th century. Today, Roma people still face issues with low education levels, high unemployment, reliance on welfare, and discrimination in multiple areas of life. The document focuses on the particular challenges faced by Roma women, who experience discrimination both within their communities and from broader Czech society.
History of roma people in the czech republic ● Nomads originally from India ● Migrated in 9th century — Arrived in the Czech Republic during the early 15th century ● Catholic church encourages the persecution of Roma people ● Czech lands legalize killing of Roma people for period of time, beginning in 1697 ● Industrialization left Roma minority behind — most Romas were illiterate and out of work at the turn of the 19th century ● Persecution and extermination by the Nazis during WWII ● Treatment and discrimination in the 20th century lead to poor conditions: ● Low education ○ ⅔ men and ¾ women do not attend school past elementary level ○ Roma children were often sent to remedial and special needs school ● High reliance on state welfare ● High percentage of Roma children in orphanages or fostercare The Normalization period (1970s-1980s) ● Integration of the Roma into Czech society occured in the 1970s and 1980s ● The programme for the integration was implemented as a state policy after 1970 ● Union of Gypsies-Roma was founded in the late 1960s ○ First Roma civic organization ○ Strongly influenced policies targeting Roma minority for three years ● Roma population were not in official documents acknowledged as a distinct ethnic minority until 1990 ● Roma people became more dependent on social benefits and welfare social system ● Most of the Roma population did not trust social institutions/education ○ Problem of education and care for children became a widely discussed issue ● During this period, the social systems in all communist countries operated with a racist framework Transition period (1990s) ● Charter 77 and Dissidents advocated for human rights, including Romas ● 1991: Roma nationality added to the Czech census ○ Official data can now be collected ○ Only a fraction of the population actually declares themselves as Roma ● Studies released in 1990s highlighted problems faced by Roma minority ○ Ex. Involuntary sterilization of Roma women since the 1970s ● Czech Helsinki Committee Report on the State of Human Rights in the Czech Republic (1994) ○ Criticized the status of Roma in Czech society ● Transition from communism led to even higher unemployment ○ 26.6% unemployment rate in 2002 ○ Criminality problems rose due to unemployment ○ Increased dependence on social welfare, unable to afford adequate healthcare or childcare Impact of European union and discourse of multiculturalism ● Led to “three-dimensional approach” to the Roma issue ○ Re-establishing Roma cultural patterns/rediscover the Roma identity ● Council of the Government and the Czech Republic for Roma Community Affairs attempted to integrate Roma minorities into society on a systematic basis ○ Key document: “The Roma Integration Policy Concept” ● Report on the State of Roma Communities in the Czech Republic was created in 2004 to solve the issue on a lack of information on the Roma population (especially on involvement in society) ○ Focused on medium-term goals ● Main goal of 2004-2010: improve social status of Roma people (education, housing, health, and labour market areas) ● Key concept currently: social inclusion and discourse of multiculturalism ○ Not just a language barrier problem, but a cultural barrier problem ○ Highly discussed topic currently is about Roma women in the family, society, and discrimination they face Czech Roma Women ● What do they have in common with Czech women? ○ Discrimination in access to education and the labour market, housing segregation, risk of poverty, etc. ● General discrimination with patriarchal structure in Roma families ● Significant portion of Roma women are unemployed ○ Leading to an increase in prostitution as a last resort for Roma Women ● Often victims of domestic violence ● Current generation of young Roma women play a significant role in family decision-making and in having access to money in the household ● Several members of the young generation of Roma women in the Czech Republic have established civic groups to fight for more rights Disadvantages Towards Ethnic Minority Women ● Lack of access to Education ○ Due to household duties, language barrier, isolation ○ Girls leave school earlier than boys due to family responsibilities ○ Reluctance of schools to enroll Roma children due to parents not wanting their children in school with Roma children ● Housing Conditions ○ Segregated, Over-crowded ○ Isolated with little access to public transportation ○ High risk of eviction ○ Contributes to health problems ● Poor Health Conditions ○ Considerably lower life expectancy ○ Higher rate of pregnancy, abortion, disease, malnutrition ○ Difficult access to healthcare service ● Access to Social Benefits ○ Due to low income, temporary employment, and lack of paperwork ○ Often live isolated far away from these services ● Access to employment ○ Unemployment rate among Roma women higher than the rest of the population ○ Face prejudice in hiring, promotion, wages ○ Traditional domestic family roles ○ Many are self-employed, reducing eligibility for unemployment benefits ● Limited Access to Financial Services ○ Difficulty buying houses or opening a bank account ○ Because many don’t have secure employment they are uneligable for these services ● Social Prejudice ○ Roma women are seen for traditional role as caregivers ○ Rarely represented in parliament, even in countries where they make up large parts of the population ○ Many women are treated disrespectfully and followed/harassed on a day to day basis ○ Some restaurants and businesses do not permit Roma women to enter if they are in traditional dress Discrimination Towards Women Within Roma Culture ● Women seen as caretakers and responsible for only household duties ○ This is an obstacle to their education and opportunity for employment ● Men seen as dominant, women seen as submissive ● Young women are held back from participating in public life; must be chaperoned when they leave the community ● Divorce/separation is uncommon ○ If they do separate, the man is given all of the power and can decide what to do with the children ● Domestic violence is common ○ Often seen as a socially acceptable practice due to submissive role of women Roma Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JpWJc3HaAI Questions for the Class ● What is your solution to the issues talked about for the Roma population involving the discrimination, racism, and lack of societal integration? ● Do you think that the Czech Republic government is doing enough on the issue? ● Do you see this type of discrimination on any specific races or minority groups in the United States? ● Do you think that the Roma people can be integrated fully into the Czech Republic society eventually? Can they ever reach equality? ● How does Susan Okid’s Essay relate to this issue? What do you think she would say about the Roma Women?