Life at the Crossroads of Social Change: Invigorating Romani Women's Empowerment in Post-Socialist Croatia

This paper describes the challenges of Romani women's empowerment in the context of Croatia's rapidly changing political economy. Romani women-for the first time in Croatia's history-are positioned to reap substantial benefits from state largesse, including minority rights legislation, which promises, among other things, unprecedented educational opportunities, political participation, and greater access to the labor market. I discuss how Romani women negotiate their newfound status as beneficiaries of these social goods vis-a-vis the changing Croatian political economy. Analyzing their needs, assets and cultural capital, I offer recommendations to three different stakeholders: the Romani leadership, Croatian policymakers and legislators, and the Croatian Employment Service.