The social exclusion of the Domari society of Gypsies in Jerusalem: a story narrated by the women of the tribe

ABSTRACT

This study looks into the lives of women from the Domari Society of Gypsies in Jerusalem. Residing in a conflict-ridden city and exposed to multiple stigmas, the study exposes the structures that perpetuate the disempowerment of Domari women in Jerusalem. It looks into their neighbourhoods, the social services available to them, the education services that they receive, their opportunities in the labour market, and the marriage patterns in the society. The study adopted qualitative research methods to allow the research participants to narrate their stories in ways meaningful to them. The narratives were analysed through an intersectional lens to expose the multiple oppressions these women are subject to. The women’s stories reveal high levels of stigma and isolation, which have disempowered members of the community and perpetuated the cycle of their exclusion.

KEYWORDS:

• Domari society
• Gypsy
• intersectionality
• stigma
• East Jerusalem
• social Exclusion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Nadia, Interviewee age 43.

2. Maram, Interviewee age 33.

3. Nadia, Interviewee age 43.

4. Rihana, Interviewee age 18.

5. Maram, Interviewee age 33.

6. Nadia, Interviewee age 43.

7. Salma, interviewee, age 60.

8. An example given by the journalist Nir Hasson (2016) is the comparison between the budgets of Beit Hinuch high school serving Israeli students and Ras al-Amud boys school serving Palestinian students. Both schools are municipal schools funded by the Israeli municipality and the ministry of education. Beit Hinuch has 782 students while Ras Al Amoud boys has 783. The total budget allocated by the city for Beit Hinuch in 2016 is 16.3 million shekels ($4.3 million,) while the Palestinian school, with the same number of pupils, will be getting only 2.9 million shekels ($766,993). The number of teaching positions approved for Beit Hinuch is 70.8, while for Ras al-Amud it is a mere 21.7.

9. Nadia, Interviewee age 43.

10. Rihana, Interviewee age 18.

11. Sawsan, Interviewee age 40.

12. Rihana, interviewee age 18.

13. Maram, Interviewee, age 33.

14. Sawsan, Interviewee age 40.

15. Maram, Interviewee, age 33.

16. Nadia, Interviewee, age 43.

17. Amira, Interviewee, age 63.

18. Sawsan, Interviewee, age 40.

19. Rihana, Interviewee, age 18.

20. Salma, Interviewee, age 60.