Paper short abstract:

Research on racism and discrimination in Europe has overlooked national ethnic minorities. Drawing on ethnographic data on dynamics of mixedness, racialization and discrimination, we examine the significant case of Spanish Roma, a group that is still perceived as the ultimate ‘Other’.

Paper long abstract:

One of the main challenges faced by European societies is addressing and combatting pervasive realities of racism and discrimination. Nevertheless, European research on racism and discrimination has traditionally focused on immigrant populations, overlooking national ethnic minorities and other populations who are racialized and discriminated against. This is particularly the case of the Roma people, the largest ethnic minority in Europe, that has historically experienced widespread stigmatization, discrimination and exclusion, particularly in countries such as Spain, where Spanish Roma (“gitanos”) constitute the most important national ethnic minority, with 600 years of presence in the country, yet still perceived as the ultimate ‘Others’. Acknowledging the significance of mixing across ethnoracial boundaries as one of the most important test for revealing social divisions and the social structure, we present findings from a pioneering research project that has explored dynamics of mixedness (intermarriage and multiethnicity) among Roma populations in Spain and the minority/majority relations in Spanish society at large. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and in-depth interviews with Roma/non-Roma mixed couples and individuals, we examine participants’ responses regarding social attitudes towards interethnic mixing, the effect of mixing on Roma identity, and experiences of antigypsyism, racialization, and discrimination associated with ethnoracial crossing. The final aim of this presentation is to contribute to a broader conceptualization of the dynamics of othering, racialization and discrimination in migration studies, which is also greatly needed in order to improve anti-discrimination policies and practices.

Keywords: Roma populations, ethnic minorities, racism, racialization, discrimination, social inclusion/exclusion, mixedness.