On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we want to highlight how poverty specifically affects Roma women [editar]
- The feminization of poverty, as a phenomenon that describes how poverty disproportionately affects women and girls, is clearly evident among Roma women.
In Spain, 6.6 million women are at risk of poverty and/or social exclusion[1], representing 26.8% of all women, a higher rate than that of men (24.8%). Globally, the poverty gap between men and women has widened, according to data from UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Poverty eradication suffered its worst setback in 2020, and it is estimated that there are 47 million more women and girls worldwide living below the poverty line, an increase of 9.1%[2].
These figures are even more severe in the case of Roma women.
Roma women are not only familiar to the problems faced by other women, but, in addition to gender inequality, they face other structural inequalities stemming from their membership in a traditionally excluded ethnic group:
- The discrimination they suffer from mainstream society for belonging to the Roma ethnic group.
- The discrimination they suffer for being women, from mainstream society, and within their own group for living and being educated in different roles compared to men.
- The discrimination they suffer as a result of stereotypes and prejudices associated with and normalized by the majority regarding the social image of Roma women and their culture in various spheres.
This discrimination is clearly visible in areas such as employment, where Roma women continue to face a particular disadvantage. According to the most recent data[3], the lparticipation of Roma women in employment is much lower than that of men in the same community: in 2018, their activity rate was 38%, compared to 76% for men, while the employment rate was 17% compared to 44%. Furthermore, the unemployment rate for Roma women is 60%, compared to 52% for the Roma community as a whole, 14.5% for the general population, and 16% for women in the general population.
The main reason for this lack of participation in the open labour market is, according to studies, the enormous educational gap affecting Roma women and girls. For example, in Spain, illiteracy affects 13.8% of Roma women. This educational level is a determining factor for employment and socioeconomic inequality, as it chronicizes a precarious social and economic situation that impedes their development. Academic failure, caused by a combination of educational and socioeconomic factors, particularly impacts young Roma women, whose school failure rate is nearly 70%. The main reasons include a lack of specific and tailored support within the education system, a lack of role models in families, family-related issues (household chores or the burdens associated with family and gender roles), and a lack of motivation and expectations that appear at a very early age among students and their families.
[1] EAPN, 2025 (in Spanish).
[2] Acción contra el Hambre, 2022 (in Spanish).
[3] FSG. Comparative study on the situation of the Roma population in Spain in terms of employment and poverty 2018
The work of Fundación Secretariado Gitano
From Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG), we believe that achieving equal opportunities and equal treatment for Roma women requires working with the society as a whole to raise awareness about gender inequality and the multiple discriminations that permeates Roma women's lives. We agree with UN Women in recognizing that 'Investing in women's economic empowerment directly contributes to gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth.'
Gender discrimination means that women often end up in insecure and low-paid jobs and remain a small minority in leadership positions. Discrimination also reduces access to economic assets such as land and loans and limits their participation in the design of social and economic policies. Another aspect to consider is that the bulk of domestic tasks falls on women, so they often have little free time to take advantage of economic opportunities.
For nine years, Fundación Secretariado Gitano has been developing the Calí Programme[1], which promotes equality for Roma women. This programme supports the socio-laboral advancement of Roma women who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable due to barriers related to gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic circumstances, and educational deficiencies. It also focuses on combating anti-Roma sentiment and discrimination, applying an intersectional approach. It does so through individualized intervention and support programmes. However, in addition to the work of social organizations, it is essential to develop public policies specifically aimed at Roma women that take into account the social and cultural context in order to escape a comparatively unequal situation of poverty.
Need for specific public policies for Roma women
To ensure that the situation of Roma women is a priority in the fight against poverty, public administrations must systematically incorporate an intersectional approach into the design of public policies. To this end, effective and tailored measures must be incorporated to ensure that this specificity is reflected in any public policy initiative.
Furthermore, it remains essential to incorporate ethnically segregated data into social studies conducted on the general population in order to understand the social situation of the Roma population in general and of Roma women and girls in particular.
The Action Plan to Improve the Employability of the Roma Population (2025-2028) is a initiative of the Spanish government aimed at guaranteeing equal opportunities and offsetting the serious inequality in the workplace among the Roma population, whose unemployment rate is three times higher in comparison with the general population. Employment is a key element to breaking the cycle of poverty and exclusion suffered by the Roma, which is why the recent approval of this Plan serves as a benchmark for public policy: these measures are tailored to provide an efficient response to a profile of particular social vulnerability and include comprehensive support for Roma women with training and counseling to enhance their employability.
Furthermore, the approval in Spain, on 26 February, of the new State Pact against Gender-Based Violence[1], makes it another good benchmark for public policy, as, in addition to addressing general measures for all victims of gender-based violence, it incorporates specific actions tailored to the circumstances of Roma women. For the first time, the Pact recognizes economic violence as a form of gender-based violence, which represents a necessary step forward, although insufficient if not accompanied by measures that guarantee women's economic autonomy.
[1] Ministry of Equality, 2025 (in Spanish).