Discrimination as A Barrier to Romani Women’s Health and Empowerment: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT

This qualitative descriptive case study investigates perceptions of health and empowerment among Romani women and social workers in Marseille, France. I used constructivist grounded theory to develop theory emerging from interviews and participant observation data. Results suggest intersectional discrimination at individual and structural levels led to inequalities in accessing resources essential to their survival in France, including healthcare, housing, and employment. This study provides insight into the ways discrimination impacts health inequalities experienced by Romani migrant women. Ultimately, this research highlights essential knowledge and strategies for social workers and public health professionals to empower Romani women by connecting them with essential resources and by envisioning anti-racist interventions to alleviate their experience of individual and structural discrimination.

KEYWORDS:

• Romani women
• women’s health and empowerment
• intersectional discrimination
• qualitative methods

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, the Weatherhead Center, and the Department of Global Health and Population (GHP) at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health for making the opportunity for fieldwork available, encouraged, and financially possible. Moreover, this project would not be possible without the assistance and warm welcome of workers in Service Duman at HAS. Throughout this experience, the support of FXB International Liaison Myriam Zuber, fellow FXB interns, and fellow GHP students proved essential. Lastly, I am thankful for the generous feedback from Professor Jaqueline Bhabha, Professor Tessa Joy Lowinske Desmond, Professor Holly Hurlburt, Professor Christopher Sudfeld, Professor Heidi Bacon, and Professor David J. Gibson.

Disclosure statement

No financial interest or benefit has arisen from direct application of this research.

Data availability statement

The interviews, participant observations, and all other data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, Lacey Ramirez. The data are not publicly available because they contain information that could compromise the privacy of study participants.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported in part by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health andWeatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University.