Virginity, Early Marriage and
Well-Being of Roma girls
The Children’s Rights Perspective
Ljiljana Sinickovic
Brana Bosnjak
Outline
Roma in Europe
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Research questions and methodology
Result analysis
Readiness for marriage
Qualities of the bride
Virginity
Discussion
Best Interests of the Child
Final 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
Document Analysis
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.
Field work
Winter 2009/2010
Semi-structural interviews (N=35)
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Sample
COUNTRY OF
RESIDENCE
MOTHERS
GIRLS
BOYS
GERMANY
6
5
7
BOSNIA &
HERZEGOVINA
3
2
3
SERBIA
5
2
2
Total
14
9
12
Average age
39.8
16.8
17
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Guideline Questions
What is
usually said
in your
family?
What is
your
personal
opinion?
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
Virgin
Hardworking
and obedient
Smart and
polite
MOTHERS “She should be a virgin”, “smart and polite”,
“hardworking”
BOYS “She should be a virgin, she shouldn’t be emptyheaded 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”
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Virginity of the bride
YES
• 11 (12)
• BOYS
YES
• 8 (9)
• GIRLS
YES
• 11 (14)
• MOTHERS
“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)
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Virginity of the groom
NO
• 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
• best interests
• education
• participation
EARLY
MARRIAGE
AND
VIRGINITY
• health
• information
• discrimination
• all forms of physical
or mental violence
• life, survival
and development
• free time and recreation
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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 Sinickovic
lj.sinickovic@scn.see.ba
Brana Bosnjak
branislava.bosnjak@uni-bielefeld.de
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