Gender, Race/Ethnicity and Expert Knowledge by Roma: Mária László on the Employment of Romani Men and Women in 1950s Hungary

• In Event: Women Experts and Feminist Knowledge Production in East Central Europe, 1945-1989

Abstract

The proposed paper examines how Mária László (1909 –1989), the first secretary general of the Cultural Association of Gypsies in Hungary (1957–1961), which was the first country-wide Romani organization, addressed issues related to the participation of Roma in paid labour, and their living and health conditions. Taking an intersectional perspective, the paper addresses the ways László navigated the opportunities provided by the state-embraced principles of class solidarity and antiracism to fight against racist assumptions about the work-shyness of Roma that affected Romani men and women differently and formed a major obstacle to their employment. Furthermore, building on the state-declared goal of increasing the equality between men and women, László integrated issues concerning Roma into the agendas and activities, and Romani women into the networks of the state (women’s) organizations. Relying on Mária László’s personal papers, the files of the association and the contemporary press, the paper shows that while towards Roma, László highlighted the perspective for their social integration and the new regime’s need for committed Romani men and women workers, towards authorities and the general public she voiced a sharp-toned criticism of racism in 1950s Hungary.

Author

• Eszter Varsa, Central European U (Austria)