Anti-Roma prejudice in Greece: A challenge for social work

Abstract

The Roma are one of the most marginalised and socially excluded groups in Greece. They face discrimination, barriers and social exclusion mainly as a result of anti-Roma stereotypes and prejudices formed throughout the centuries. The purpose of this research was to investigate attitudes and prejudices towards the Roma according to the views of education, health and social welfare professionals. The research used qualitative methods and in particular a semi-structured interview. The group of interviewees included twenty three professionals working in various settings in the city of Athens. The research showed that welfare, health and education professionals, under the influence of dominant social attitudes, are likely to become vehicles of the same anti-Roma prejudices and negative attitudes held by the general population. The research results highlight the need to develop appropriate intervention measures designed to reduce the feeling of threat and change the negative anti-Roma attitudes of these professionals, by focusing on multicultural, critical and anti-oppressive approaches and adopting multicultural policies aimed at accepting diversity and fighting discrimination.