ABSTRACT

Moving from a feminist perspective this study aims at understanding the process of participation of Roma women, living in Izmir, in economic life within the context of the intersectionality approach that developed within feminist literature. The research was conducted on Roma women living in Konak, Karşıyaka and Bergama districts through semi-structured indebted interviews and focuses on the identity-based multiple oppression process experienced by Roma women. According to the findings of the study, the experience of Roma women to participate in economic life supports the claim of intersectionality approach, which suggests that women are oppressed at the intersection of identities such as race, culture, ethnic origin, religion and class. A woman with different identities is oppressed not only because of her gender identity but also because of her dominant identity. According to the research, Roma women, living in İzmir, are oppressed, excluded and discriminated, in economic life, due to their Roma identity beside their gender identity