Experiences and perspectives of emancipation and leadership of Roma and Sinti women

Abstract

The Roma and Sinti world is generally the subject of study for the persistent conditions of socio-economic precariousness and in reference to the discrimination and marginalization to which it is subjected, even more so when attention is focused on the female component. While recognizing the permanent inequalities and the duty to overcome them, the paper proposes to look at women to value them as active and proactive subjects. Through a review of the literature relating to the Roma and Sinti world and on women and feminism, it clearly emerges how Roma and Sinti women know how to make themselves protagonists. Women's participation, therefore, can be read in many areas and we will choose some of them: the ability to react to discrimination, the desire for youth change, dialogue with stakeholders, active participation in the dynamics of social and cultural development, manifestations of activism and feminism. The intent is to highlight female empowerment as a growth strategy, suggesting attention to women as the key to a more complete reading of reality and to conditions of effective equality and equal opportunities for women and society.

Keywords: Roma and Sinti women, intersectionality, empowerment, participation, agency, freedom.