Perception: Roma women are helpless child brides who are exploited and abused by their husbands and families. They are forced to start having children at ages as young as 12.

Reality: Traditions practiced by many Roma groups often originated as practical responses to a life of slavery when women were used as a means to produce additional slave labor. For example, Roma girls were often married young to protect them from sexual exploitation and separation from their parents. Domestic violence occurs among all types of families, regardless of income, profession, region, ethnicity, educational level or race and is not an indicator of “Gypsyness”. Yet, due to the intersection of multiple forms of discrimination, Roma women one of the most vulnerable socio-economic groups in Europe.

Fahrija Karičić (25),
Seamstress

“I finished trade school in Zenica. It was not hard for me to go to school because I was a good student. I am currently employed at FIS Vitez. I have now been working there for five years as a tailor. I really like my job because it gives me the opportunity to be creative and to design things from a piece of fabric. It brings me joy to see my creations on the people around me. I like making clothing for children and babies the most and it makes me really happy to see them in the dresses and suits I make for them. In addition to sewing, I also worked on the packaging and ironing of goods. Every segment of my work is teamwork. All of my colleagues are wonderful people and I’ve never had problems at work because I was a Roma woman. No one has ever tried to separate me from the other workers because of who I am. I work at a multiethnic company where it doesn’t matter to which ethnicity you belong. What matters most is whether you are a good person and responsible worker. Through his example, the owner of our company, Mr. Pero Gudelj, has built an atmosphere of tolerance and respect. I still haven’t gotten married yet, so it is very important for me to work, be independent, and be able to take care of myself. I am living alone at the moment, but I am engaged and soon to be married to the man of my dreams. I first hope that he will give me love and respect. After that, we will think about parenthood, but until then I want to enjoy life.”