RoMoMatteR: Empowering Roma Girls’ Mattering through Reproductive Justice

Abstract

Aim: To present a protocol study directed at tackling gender discrimination against Roma girls by empowering their mattering so they can envision their own futures and choose motherhood only if—and when—they are ready. Background: Motherhood among Roma girls (RGM) in Europe impoverishes their lives, puts them at risk of poor physical and mental health and precipitates school dropouts. Overwhelming evidence affirms that the conditions of poverty and the social exclusionary processes they suffer have a very important explanatory weight in their sexual and reproductive decisions. Methods: Through a Community-based Participatory Action Research design, 20–25 Roma girls will be recruited in each one of the four impoverished communities in Bulgaria, Romania and Spain. Data collection and analysis: Desk review about scientific evidences and policies will be carried out to frame the problem. Narratives of Roma women as well as baseline and end line interviews of girl participants will be collected through both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Quantitative data will be gathered through reliable scales of mattering, socio–political agency, satisfaction with life and self. A narrative analysis of the qualitative information generated in the interviews will be carried out. Expected results: (1) uncover contextual and psychosocial patterns of girl-motherhood among Roma women; (2) build critical thinking among Roma girls to actively participate in all decisions affecting them and advocate for their own gender rights within their communities; and (3) empower Roma girls and their significant adults to critically evaluate their own initiatives and provide feedback to their relevant stakeholders. Conclusions: Roma girls will improve their educational aspirations and achievements and their social status while respecting and enhancing Roma values.

Assessing multidimensional mattering: Development and exploratory validation of the Mattering in Domains of Life Scale (MIDLS)

“…Identifying and targeting key gaps seems especially important given, for instance, the critical function of community mattering for youth. Meanwhile, assessing mattering across domains may point to critical ecological factors such as work climate or community justice (Garcia‐Ramirez et al, 2020; Prilleltensky, 2019) overlooked by purely psychosocial assessment approaches.…”

“…Meanwhile, assessing mattering across domains may point to critical ecological factors such as work climate or community justice (Garcia-Ramirez et al, 2020;Prilleltensky, 2019) overlooked by purely psychosocial assessment approaches.…”

Emerging discourses on education and motherhood with Roma women

“…These patterns of discrimination are strongly associated with motherhood, as Roma women often become mothers while teenagers. The RomoMatteR project promotes actions to empower teenagers so they can freely decide their life goals, for them to be recognised and valued in their communities regardless of their decisions about motherhood and influence decision-making processes in their communities (Garcia-Ramirez et al, 2020).…”

Promoting justice through community‐based research: International case studies

“…The aim of this case study is to illustrate a collaboration between researchers from the Center for Community Action and Research at the University of Seville (CESPYD) and RWG from two neighborhoods in Seville, Spain designed to ensure that local officials heard the voices of RWG in the distribution of resources to ameliorate the economic impact of COVID‐19 (see Garcia‐Ramirez et al, 2020). The RWG involved were all mothers from the most marginalized areas of their respective neighborhoods.…”