Exploring opportunities in internationally mobile higher

education: Intersections of gender and HE experience for Roma

students

Tamsin Hinton-Smith, University of Sussex

Tamsin Hinton-Smith, Senior Lecturer in Higher Education and Associate Director, University of Sussex Centre for Gender Studies j.t.hinton-smith@sussex.ac.uk

Emily Danvers, Doctoral student: Students' experiences of critical thinking in HE. e.danvers@sussex.ac.uk

Tanja Jovanovic, Doctoral student: Roma Student Access to HE in Serbia: Challenges and Promises tj54@sussex.ac.uk

Higher Education Internationalisation and

Mobility: Inclusions, Equalities and Innovations (HEIM)

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/education/cheer/researchprojects/rise

Centre for Higher Education and Equity Researchhttp://www.sussex.ac.uk/education/cheer/

‘I had nice teachers all the way... Many good and supportive teachers in both primary and secondary school. They were not the big enthusiastic kind, but gave me constant support when I needed it. So, I want to serve other kids, show them they can do it.’Aishe, Roma university student

‘I am aware that we have got opportunities. We have the same purpose, to change things for our community. We are here and think we can do it. When your family wants the best for you and invests in your education, I feel that I have to give the best of myself.’Lala, Roma university student

‘It can be a burden on my shoulders to always be seen as a Roma - the expectation to give back. Giving back to the community is a personal choice, but I do not see it as my personal responsibility.’Asti, Roma university student  ‘Should we all work on Roma questions? We can’t all work with that - we must work in public organisations etc. and show that Roma can do that as well.’Gabi, Roma university student

The ERASMUS study found that mobile students ‘still came from privileged socio-economic backgrounds and acadmeic family background played an important role in determining eductaion abroad.’ 2014:38 

‘I don’t know whether University broke my marriage or opened my eyes. Men don't necessarily want a professional woman next to them, it becomes too much. I realised that I could do more than iron my husband's shirts’ Mariam, Roma woman graduate professional

 ‘Gender, as well as other characteristics such as nationality, age, language and socio-economic background intersects with Roma ethnicity to produce a complexity of factors defining becoming and being a Roma student in higher education.’ Emily Danvers, 2015: 18

 ‘When we speak of Roma women, discrimination becomes three-fold: for being women, for being Roma and for belonging to an ethnic minority.’Maria José Jiménez Cortiñas and Aurora Fernández, Roma Feminist Association for Diversity, 2014

‘While [minority women] face racism and sexism from the majority society, they also confront sexism and male domination in their own community. In this bind, speaking out about oppressive practices in their own community, such as gendered violence, can result in being treated like a traitor by their own community, while also reinforcing negative stereotypes of the majority society of oppressive, backward cultures.’ Christina Ho, 2007: 296

‘Roma women’s empowerment should be fostered through inclusive education systems and their participation at all levels of decision-making’ European Roma Information Office, 2015

Thank you

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