Multiple struggles in fighting violence against women: implications among Romani women leaders in Spain

Figures & data

Table 1. Interview guide addressed to women from Roma or pro-Roma associations in Spain, 2014–2015.

As a part of the work of your association, do you carry out any activities related to intimate partner violence in the Roma population?

(IF YES) Can you tell me about these activities?

In your opinion, are these programs directed towards intimate partner violence in the Roma population effective? Why?

(IF NO) Are you aware of, or have you participated in any activity outside of your association related to intimate partner violence in the Roma population?

In your opinion, are these programs directed towards intimate partner violence in the Roma population effective? Why?

Is there a collaborative relationship between the administration and your association that supports intervention related to intimate partner violence with Roma women?

(IF YES) How would you describe this collaborative relationship (administration/association)?

Does your association attend to victims of abuse?

(IF YES) Do you know if the Roma women who suffer abuse and who attend your association also attend a healthcare center after having suffered an attack? Why?

(IF NO) In your personal experience, do you believe that Roma women who are victims of abuse attend a healthcare center after having suffered an attack? Why?

Is there any collaboration between the health system and the association that serves to facilitate a first contact between a health professional and a Roma woman suffering abuse?

(IF YES) Could you describe this collaboration (health system/association)? And how would you describe the relationship between the two?

(IF NO) Do you think such a collaboration is necessary (health system/association)? Why?

In general, what are the principal characteristics needed by workers attending to these cases of violence in Roma women?

With respect to cases of abuse, what do you think is the general response to cases of intimate partner violence? What about cases of Romani women who suffer from this violence?

In general, what improvement is needed in these cases? In the primary care setting, what do you think is most needed by health professionals so that they can properly attend to Roma women who suffer violence?

Table 2. Themes, categories and main codes generated from the interviews with women from Roma or pro-Roma associations in Spain, 2014–2015.

Themes	Between persistence and rupture of restrictive gender norms			Invisibility and normalization of Violence Against Women (VAW) in the Roma community		Willingness and trust in daily work with women
Categories	Social construction of Romani women’s gender identity	Generational ruptures	Social changes in the Roma community. Are they real or apparent?	Delinking ethnicity from experiences with VAW among Romani women	Signs of particular/unique experiences of VAW among Romani women	Need for specific VAW measures within a general intervention model
Selected codes	– Elements of multiple discrimination: for being a woman, Roma, low education level and low income, among others. – Persistence of traditional notions about being ‘a Roma woman’ linked to cultural identity. – Consequences of traditional gender norms for women’s health and wellbeing	– Access to education and employment as elements that emancipate women. – Empowered youth. – Conflicts of identity. – Transition of models of femininity. – Examples of the rupture in traditional roles and their consequences	– Women who lead processes of change are also sanctioned by the community and by men. – The mirage of equality	– Invisibility as a way to avoid further damaging the image of the Roma community. – VAW is similar between Romani and non-Romani women. – VAW normalization among Roma. Real or an excuse?	– Romani women face greater obstacles – Extended family is key to understand how women make decisions – The importance of informal help-seeking resources	– From a model of information and support to a model of intervention and social empowerment. – Working to prevent VAW in a subtly ‘hidden’ way. – Personal empathy and implication of association representatives