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Falling off the Radar? Reaching Out to the Finnish Roma Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Marko Stenroos

    (Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Laura Musta

    (Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Natalia Skogberg

    (Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

In this paper, we ask how the Finnish Roma community handled the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the information reached Roma communities. The previous studies indicate existing health inequalities between Finnish Roma and the general population. The point of departure for the article is crisis communication between Finnish Roma and national authorities. The themes of racialization, mistrust and Roma relying on peers as a source of information and support became apparent. From this setting, this article sheds light on the way of speaking, usage of language, (Finnish) as a social construction of ethnic identity and expression of (non)belonging. At the same time, the usage of languge and codeswitching reveals social stratifications among the Finnish Roma population. Findings indicate that subtle forms of exclusion of Roma prevail in Finland and are materialized as a “left alone mentality”. Consequently, Roma persons working as civil servants or NGO workers would potentially constitute a crucial link between health authorities and the Roma population. This link, however, should be constantly maintained. The study is a qualitative study and based on thematic interviews among Roma actors.

Suggested Citation

  • Marko Stenroos & Laura Musta & Natalia Skogberg, 2023. "Falling off the Radar? Reaching Out to the Finnish Roma Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:12:y:2023:i:3:p:183-:d:1100285
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Velicu, Anca & Barbovschi, Monica & Rotaru, Ileana, 2022. "Socially isolated and digitally excluded. A qualitative exploratory study of the lives of Roma teenage mothers during the COVID-19 lockdown," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. Remus Creţan & Petr Kupka & Ryan Powell & Václav Walach, 2022. "EVERYDAY ROMA STIGMATIZATION: Racialized Urban Encounters, Collective Histories and Fragmented Habitus," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 82-100, January.
    3. Andrej Belak & Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska & Andrea Madarasova Geckova & Jitse P. van Dijk & Sijmen A. Reijneveld, 2017. "How Well Do Health-Mediation Programs Address the Determinants of the Poor Health Status of Roma? A Longitudinal Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Olga Magano & Maria Manuela Mendes, 2021. "Structural Racism and Racialization of Roma/Ciganos in Portugal: The Case of Secondary School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-14, May.
    5. Riikka Lämsä & Anu E. Castaneda & Anneli Weiste & Marianne Laalo & Päivikki Koponen & Hannamaria Kuusio, 2020. "The Role of Perceived Unjust Treatment in Unmet Needs for Primary Care Among Finnish Roma Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-15, August.
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