The Trope of Romani Criminality in Spain's Gender Violence Institutions: A Critique of Punitive Feminism

While Spain has been drawing worldwide attention for its feminist mobilizations in the past years, the movement is currently tearing itself apart on whether a punitive response to gender violence aligns with its values. Based on qualitative research in Madrid's gender violence institutions, I discuss the primacy given to prosecution in the implementation of Spain's internationally acclaimed "gender violence law" and how it interacts with the racist trope of "Romani criminality" in practitioners' discourses. I show that it manifests in the popular culture myth of Romani men hurting women; strong suspicions towards Romani women summoned at court; and a rejection of Romani resolution process mechanisms. I conclude that Romani women's alternative means of finding safety deserve better consideration for their transformative justice potential.