Early marriages among gypsy women doom them to low education and unemployment



The Centre for inter ethnic dialogue and tolerance “Amalipe”, which was founded in 2001, works towards the Roma integration in Bulgaria. It recently carried out a survey about early marriages among gypsy women and the implications for them. The study is supported by the EC within the framework of the Daphne Programme, which encourages EU citizens to participate in European integration.

The survey reveals the number of early marriages among gypsies, the Roma groups which do that the most, as well as their motivation. An early marriage limits one´s chances for realization. It is often equal to dropping out of school, lacking an educational degree and unemployment, the centre points out. The Roma in Bulgaria account for some 800 000 people out of a 7.5 million population, findings show. According to Deyan Kolev, Chair of the centre for inter ethnic dialogue and tolerance, the average age for having a family within the Roma community is 18 years. However, there are cases of gypsies becoming parents at the age of 12 or 13. Listen next to Deyan Kolev:

“The survey has revealed 3 significant factors related to the early marriage age rising. The most important one is education. The higher the education, the higher the age for building up a family. For instance, 50% of the 16-year old Roma, who have not finished their primary education, already have families. In comparison, 50% of the gypsies with a university degree start having families, roughly speaking, when they turn 25. In other words, investment in education means marriage age rising. The other 2 factors are economic status and housing conditions”, Deyan Kolev explained.

The Roma community is not monolithic, it rather consists of different groups. For example, there is a significant difference between the gypsies from the Milleta Group, who are Turkish-speaking gypsies with an average cohabitation age of around 16, and the Roma from the Roudari Group, who are Romanian-speaking gypsies and on the average build families at 21. The early marriages are typical of the Kaldarashi Group (Roma who are coppersmiths) and the Bourgudzhie Group (gypsy blacksmiths). The Kaldarashi Group, who are known to be the richest Roma, are relatively small in number, about 30000 or 40000 people scattered all over Bulgaria. Early marriages and dropping out of school are not rooted in economic reasons. Since this group is very conservative, arranged marriages are very common with it. Regionally speaking, the Roma from North-western Bulgaria have an average cohabitation age of 20-21 years. The earliest marriages, under 16 years, are typical of the Roma from South-eastern Bulgaria. Here is more from Deyan Kolev:

“As far as economic reasons are concerned, it is clear that the gypsies who live on low incomes and at an area smaller than 30 m² have higher marriage rates than the rest. In other words, it is mostly poor Roma that tend to drop out of school, create families early, as well as suffer unemployment”.

The prevention of early marriages enables young gypsies to receive education and professional qualifications, which are advantages on the labour market. The prevention of early marriages can also help the Roma community on their way to modernization. Mr Kolev points out some of the good practices carried out:

“ Ten campaigns were organized by young educated gypsies who are not married yet, and feel willing to help Roma groups. Their efforts should be supported, and become a model for the other gypsies. At present, these pioneers are considered weir-does going against the common flow”, said Deyan Kolev from the centre for inter ethnic dialogue and tolerance “Amalipe”.

Roma mentality can be changed with the help of so-called health mediators and recruitment agencies. The health mediators are the bridge between gypsies and the health and social services. The finance ministry is responsible for paying them, using budget money from municipalities. Recruitment agencies facilitate unemployed gypsies in finding jobs. According to Deyan Kolev, the rights of the health mediators and recruitment agencies should be extended within the Roma community, which necessitates sustainable funding. These are the people who will encourage the gypsies to receive an education, which is a bridge toward employment and better life. Figures show that some 40% of the gypsies have primary education alone. Those with high-school education account for 15 %, and degree holders are only 1%. In comparison, the Bulgarians with an university degree are some 20%.