UPWARD SOCIAL MOBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS FROM MINORITY GROUPS: A CASE STUDY OF ROMA WOMENIN HIGHER EDUCATION

In this paper I investigate the phenomena of social mobility of women from patriarchal communities and the low rates of social upward mobility of women having an ethnic minority background. The aim is to identify the factors that influence access to higher education for Roma women living in Romania. I examine the interaction between social, economic, cultural and institutional factors. This paper offers a clearer understanding of the interconnections between different factors in the decision making of women from minority communities who seek a higher socio-economic status. The results of this research are based on empirical evidence through qualitative research. The paper has an interdisciplinary perspective, though the main approach derives from sociology and political science (policy analysis). An important input in this research comes from a gender studies perspective, especially related to the analysis of the intersection between gender, class and ethnicity.