virginity, early marriage and well-being of roma girls the children’s rights perspective
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Virginity, Early Marriage and Well-Being of Roma girls The Children’s Rights Perspective. Ljiljana Sini c kovi c. Brana Bo s njak. Outline. Roma in Europe The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Research questions and methodology Result analysis Readiness for marriage - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Virginity, Early Marriage and Well-Being of Roma girls
The Children’s Rights Perspective
Brana Bosnjak Ljiljana Sinickovic
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Outline
Roma in EuropeThe Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)Research questions and methodologyResult analysis Readiness for marriage Qualities of the bride VirginityDiscussion Best Interests of the ChildFinal comment
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- Low socio-economic conditions- Low education, high dropout rates, special
schools- Unemployment- Negative stereotyping- Collectivist culture: Family, solidarity,
community- „Honor“ - social pressure
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“My grandfather used to say – I will watch over a hundred sheep, but I can’t watch over one daughter.”
(F, 43, Germany)
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The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
20th November 1989
Not only the economical factors, but also the culture and the social structure of the family contribute to the violation of some children’s rights: The needs and problems of children are subject to the interpretation by adults…
(Vuckovic –Sahovic, 2000)
Three key concerns 1. denial of childhood and adolescence 2. curtailment of personal freedom 3. denial of psychosocial and emotional well-being (UNICEF, 2001)
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The Study
Field workWinter 2009/2010Semi-structural interviews (N=35)
Title Country, Year N Authors
Virginity (does) not define the value of a Roma girl
Montenegro, 2006 288 Center for Roma Initiatives
The position and problems of Young Roma
Bosnia, 2009 234 Dušanić & Trninić
Virgin yes, or no? Serbia, 2003 576 Mitro, et al.
Document Analysis
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Sample
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE MOTHERS GIRLS BOYSGERMANY 6 5 7BOSNIA &
HERZEGOVINA3 2 3
SERBIA 5 2 2Total 14 9 12
Average age 39.8 16.8 17
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What is usually said in your
family?
What is your personal opinion?
Guideline Questions
What is the appropriate age for a girl to get married? (Readiness for marriage)
What kind of qualities should a bride possess? ( Qualities of the bride)
Does a bride (groom) have to be a virgin? ( Virginity )
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Readiness for marriage
“Birth, marriage and death are the standard trio of key events in most people’s lives. But only one - marriage - is a matter of choice” (Unicef, 2001:2)
“They came to propose, and my ex father-in- law together with my father and brother agreed about my marriage. I didn’t want to, I was only 13 (…) As the parents say – that’s the way it must be. ” (M, 35, Germany)
14% of Roma girls get married under the age of 15, every third has her first child before she reaches majority (MIC Survey, Serbia, 2010)
USA 4%; Germany 1% women marry before age 18. (Unicef, 2001)
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Qualities of the bride
MOTHERS “She should be a virgin”, “smart and polite”, “hardworking”
BOYS “She should be a virgin, she shouldn’t be empty-headed and she shouldn’t go out everyday”
GIRLS “To be able to do all the house chores”, “to take care of children” and “to be good to her husband”
Virgin
Hardworking
and obedie
nt
Smart and polite
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Virginity of the bride
“I find it better for my family if she is still a virgin, because of the honor. By that man shows that he chose a smart and a good girl...” (K, 17, Germany)“If she is wandering around, you can’t say if she is a virgin or not. And when the time comes for her to marry, she comes all “torn up”. Many Gypsies worry about that.” (H, 34, Bosnia)”...when people hear you’re not...everyone will think you’re a whore” (J, 16, Germany)
YES•11 (12)•BOYS
YES•8 (9)•GIRLS
YES•11 (14)•MOTHERS
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Virginity of the groomNO
•10 (12)•BOYS
NO
•8 (9)•GIRLS
NO•11 (14)•MOTHERS
“They are simply freed from that guilt. It cannot be seen on them and it can be seen on us.” (I, 27, Serbia)
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Discussion
• discrimination
• best interests
• life, survival and development
• free time and recreation
• health • information
• education • participation
• all forms of physical or mental violence
EARLY MARRIAGE
AND VIRGINITY
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The best interests of the child
Article 3
• In all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration….
• States Parties undertake to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being…
• What is best interest?
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The concept of childhood
• “I got married when I was 18. There was a time when I was a child, a young woman, a woman and a mother, which is not the case with most of my female friends. They changed straight from the role of a little girl, 14-15 years old, to a woman and then soon to a mother. So the time when they were young girls – did not exist.” (I, 27, Serbia)
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Final comment
No matter which country of residence - the attitudes of our participants remain similar
Women in education…
Bridginig the gap between tradition and education
