Gender ideologies in Gabor Roma Communities: “With us, men come first!”

Abstract

The paper examines the ideologies and practices of gender differentiation in Transylvanian Gabor Roma communities, discussing how the patriline-oriented genealogy and social memory contribute to the male-dominance in gender ideology. It points out how the androcentric gender order is constructed in various social and interaction practices. Finally, the study outlines the Romani concept of gendered human body, and the ideology of marhime ['impurity'], with special attention to its interactional aspects. By analysing moralising discourses on marhime-related linguistic taboos, and the gendered patterns of repair work (e.g., conversational routines of apology). The study highlights the intertwined relationship of the ideologies of gender and language and their contribution to the (re)production of the moral order.