Virginity, Early Marriage and Well-Being of Roma girls The Children’s Rights Perspective

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

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Thank you for your attention!

Ljiljana Sinickoviclj.sinickovic@scn.see.ba

Brana Bosnjakbranislava.bosnjak@uni-bielefeld.de