Enhancing Roma Women in Higher Education Around the World: The Case of Roma Women Student Gatherings

• In Event: Investigating the Influence of Gender in Education Worldwide

Abstract

There is increasing evidence on the need to strengthen links between educational institution and Roma communities. Aiming at unveiling key aspects of how community discourse targeting the educational participation and success of Roma women is constructed, this paper explores the “Roma women student gatherings”. This is an annual gathering, organized by the Roma Association of Women “Drom Kotar Mestipen”, which has been working for improving their access to quality education since 2000. This study examines the narratives of seven Roma women who took part in the intergenerational gathering celebrated for the 20th anniversary of the association where over 400 Roma women participated. We analyse the drivers they identified in their academic trajectories to foster their participation in higher education.

Authors

• Rocio Garcia-Carrion, University of Deusto

• Carme Garcia Yeste, Universitat Rovira i Virgili

• Andrea Khalfaoui, University of Deusto