The civic life of young Czech Roma: Perceived resources, barriers, and opportunities
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Civic participation of people from minorities is defined by specific conditions compared to the majority. Roma minority accounts for a significant number of the population in the Czech Republic, therefore it is important to focus our attention on Roma perception of themselves within the society. This paper examines the civic engagement of Roma minority and incorporates the psychology of individual citizen into the analysis. Based on the findings from five focus groups with 28 Roma (age 16-26), this study examines how young Roma understand citizenship, their personal experiences with engagement and perceived barriers. Findings suggest that civic participation of Roma was directed mostly to their community and focused on helping others to overcome social exclusion. Motivation to become involved stemmed from a wide range of factors that were either fostering (e.g. overcoming stereotypes about Roma) or hindering (e.g. socioeconomic status) the engagement. Specific barriers faced by young Roma were discussed; among the most commonly mentioned were negative reactions both by majority and by their own community. Opportunities for engagement were seen as shaped by socioeconomic conditions. Appropriate state social policy was seen as possible solution to the aforementioned issues. Findings are discussed within previous international studies focused on minority engagement experiences and provide deeper insight into the engagement among disadvantaged minority in the Czech Republic. |
| Related projects: |