Intersecting Barriers: Roma Women in the Hungarian Labour Market

Roma women constitute one of the most marginalized groups in Hungarian society: they face gender inequality, ethnic discrimination, and socio-economic disadvantages all at once. They face more difficulties in the labour market both compared to the total female population as well as Roma men. This thesis investigates the factors that hinder Roma women’s access to the labour market in Hungary, and how these barriers have shifted from the (late) socialist period through the democratic transition to the present day. The main research question this thesis aims to find an answer to is “What factors explain the fluctuation of the labour market participation of Roma women in Hungary between the period of 1980-2025?”. Taking historical institutionalism as the main approach guiding the thesis, and building on labour market inequality theories and intersectionality, the aim is to examine how gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic disadvantage have intersected to shape Roma women’s labour market participation. For this, a mixed-methods approach is applied where qualitative interviews with Roma women of different generations are combined with official statistical data and secondary literature to capture both structural trends and lived experiences. The insights revealed by this study may carry significant implications for employment and social policy in Hungary and beyond.