Social Exclusion in the Process of Employment: The Experiences of Roma Youth

This study aims to understand how young individuals in the Roma/Gypsy community experience the social exclusion in the employment process. This has been structured according to the qualitative research design based on experience, meaning, and processes. In-depth interviews and a focus group were conducted with 11 Roma youths aged 19-30 living in Balıkesir, Turkey. A semi-structured interview form was used for the interviews. The findings were analyzed by using a phenomenological approach. The findings are clustered on the basis of identity, space and employment: (1) The Roma youth are exposed to social exclusion due to their ethnic identity during the employment process and are therefore forced to work in temporary jobs. (2) The young Roma experience social exclusion, especially in job applications. (3) The Roma identity and the stigmatized neighborhoods associated with this identity lead to problems for Roma youth in job applications or working life. (4) The attitudes of Roma youth oriented social exclusion in employment vary according to the level of education. Finally, (5) It has been discovered that the relationship established by Roma youth with their neighborhoods has a three-dimensional character: “normalization, self-criticism and divergence”.