The Arranged Marriage of Ana Maria Cioaba, Intra-Community Oppression and Romani Feminist Ideals

Abstract

This article discusses the politics behind the recently publicized arranged marriage of a 12-year-old Romani girl, Ana Maria Cioaba. It speaks to the anti-Romani racism in Romania and abroad inherent in the media portrayal of the marriage and criticizes the racist politics behind the involvement of the different political figures in an effort to ‘save’ Ms Cioaba. It also discusses the implications of the media’s obsession with the ‘exotic’ oppression of Third World women in the context of Ms Cioaba’s arranged marriage. Ultimately the article also attempts to illuminate the precarious position of Romani feminism in racist countries.