CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2013
| Author | Hurman, Hazal |
|---|---|
| Title | Why and How to be a Roma?: Identification Processes of the Students of Roma Access Program at CEU |
| Summary | The Roma Access Program (RAP) at Central European University is a one-year preparatory program designed to facilitate access of young Roma to post-graduate education. In doing this, the program aims to contribute to the improvement of the situation of Roma in Central and Eastern Europe, in the long run. Asserting that identities are not fixed, but rather relational; the study in hand examines the definition of Roma identity constructed and interiorized in RAP, and the relationships of power and privilege determinant in construction of a definition of being Roma. Additionally, the study analyzes how being enrolled in a program on the basis of their ethnicity influence self-identifications of the students and the relationships among them. While examining the identification processes of the students and the likely outcomes of the program, the study takes RAP in relation to wider pro-Roma networks, and policies aiming at empowerment of Roma. Depending on the fourteen interviews held with the students, tutors and administrators of the program, and the theoretical concepts of “social fields”, “social and symbolic capitals”; the study claims that RAP turns to be an educational venue equipping the students with previous access to social capital, with symbolic capital. At the same time, the study suggests that while self-identification as Roma turns to be an asset facilitating students’ access to RAP and to pro-Roma organizations, defining being Roma is the main site of contestation for the students at RAP. Lastly, asserting that the program remains weak in recognizing the structural inequalities “within” the Roma community, the study remains skeptical towards the achievement of the longer-term aim of the program, which is to contribute to improvement of the situation of Roma in the region. |
| Supervisor | Sgier, Lea |
| Department | Political Science MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2013/hurman_hazal.pdf |
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