The growing divide: the marginalisation of young Roma children in Bulgaria

Abstract

This article evaluates how evolving social policies for very young children and their families affect the marginalisation of Roma children from mainstream Bulgarian society. The Roma (or ‘gypsies’) have long been ostracised by various societies and since the fall of communism in 1989 have become increasingly vulnerable to income poverty and social exclusion. The exclusion of Roma threatens Bulgaria's economic and political growth because the Roma constitute an increasing proportion of the population. The article compares the effects of current child and family policies on modifying the social and economic differences between very young Roma children under the age of three and those of majority Bulgarian children. It demonstrates how both universal social policies directed at helping all children and policies targeted on helping the most deprived children in a population, can, because of previous employment and other factors, further marginalise the most disadvantaged children in a population.

Beyond the Dutch Miracle? Challenges to and Responses of the Dutch Welfare System

“…In order to encourage mothers to return to work, less benefits are paid during the child's second year. However, a return to work does not often happen among Roma mothers, who are rarely regularly employed to begin with, and who are more likely to give birth to another child during the third year of the first born child, than to go back to work (Gabel 2009;Dimitrova 2012).…”

Overcoming cultural cleavages: results from a health promotion intervention among Roma

“…Data on the appropriate development and implementation of public healthcare measures are lacking because of the problems researchers face when carrying out studies in Roma settlements. The Roma tend not to trust non-Roma researchers, fearing discrimination and exploitation, have problems talking with researchers and can be afraid of consequences they might face within and outside their community if they participate or do not participate in these studies (3,10,16,17). Time-and financial-related challenges create additional obstacles to carrying out such studies.…”

“…In addition, the poor health literacy of the Roma population can result in difficulties understanding and interpreting medical terminology. Consequently, only a few published studies have dealt with healthcare in Roma communities (3,10,17). Traditional massmedia methods of health education and public health after the intervention.…”

Ethnic patterns of returns to education in Bulgaria

“…About 70 percent of Roma children drop out of education by middle school, largely because school holds little relevance to their lives (Gatenio Gabel, ).…”