The romantic relationships of marginalised Roma youth as a gradual process of emancipation from communal constraints

This article explores the cultural meanings of romantic relationships among youth in excluded Roma settlements in Slovakia. Moving beyond pathologising narratives on early pregnancy and domestic violence, we centre the voices of 24 Roma young people aged 18-22, using constructivist qualitative analysis and member-checking with three participants. Through analysis, we created four themes. The first (Grown-up in a Day) frames romantic relationships followed by early parenthood as pivotal markers of adulthood, bringing stability, respect, and autonomy. The second theme (Don't Give In) explores community norms that tightly regulate female behaviour, with decency and secrecy constructed as essential for respectability and romantic success. The third theme (Fate Based on Gender) concerns a discourse whereby womanhood is equated with motherhood, and pregnancy, though unintended, is an irreversible step towards fulfilling a culturally expected role. The fourth theme (Protection from Ever-Present Danger) presents constructions of the marginalised, segregated settlements as dangerous, with parents enforcing protective measures to prevent harm, especially unplanned pregnancy and/or abusive relationships. Despite strong social norms, some participants develop forms of resistance such as voluntary singlehood or rethinking motherhood. Opposing strict gender norms may support greater individual autonomy within relationships and broader efforts to combat social exclusion and discrimination.