Paper short abstract:

This paper looks at how stigma and systemic barriers impact the health of newly-arrived Roma migrants in the UK, especially during COVID-19. Community support is vital but strained, highlighting a need for inclusive health policies.

Paper long abstract:

This paper investigates the compounded impacts of stigma, racialisation, and health disparities among newly-arrived Roma communities in the UK, with a specific focus on the experiences of Bulgarian Roma communities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a combination of ethnographic narratives and participatory methods, the research highlights how structural inequalities and discrimination intersect to shape the lived experiences and health outcomes of Roma.

The paper draws on fieldwork conducted in Leicester and London, capturing how the pandemic has both heightened existing vulnerabilities and deepened socio-economic precarity among Roma populations. Systemic barriers—such as precarious employment, overcrowded housing, and limited access to healthcare— compound the challenges faced by these communities. The intersection of pandemic-induced challenges with broader sociopolitical dynamics, including the uncertainties surrounding Brexit, has further amplified the health inequalities affecting Roma migrants.

Through ethnographic vignettes, the paper underscores the crucial role of community, mutual, and familial support networks as survival mechanisms. However, it also reveals the strain on these informal resources, underscoring the fragility of such networks in the face of sustained socio-political and economic adversity. By examining individual and communal experiences, the paper illustrates the entanglements of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and health, offering new insights into the impacts of structural stigma on the social determinants of health.