Roma prejudices in the European Union: responses to structural inequality

This chapter is concerned with perspectives of disadvantaged groups on prejudice and discrimination as well as inequalities of opportunity between Roma and non-Roma people in the European Union with regard to education, housing, health, and employment. The chapter explores the varied responses to the structural disadvantage of Roma people by non-Roma and Roma people themselves. We argue that Roma responses to structural inequalities, prejudice and discrimination are related to non-Roma people’s perceptions of these very issues. We highlight the range of responses from Roma people to structural injustice, including practices that Roma may use to subvert entrenched discrimination. For Roma people, inequalities of opportunity are an everyday occurrence in the workplace, healthcare, education, or business. The acceptability of prejudices and discrimination against Roma makes the alleviation of inequality and disadvantage difficult.