Roma professionals in the Czech Republic: Career trajectories and experiences

Abstract: This thesis explores career trajectories and experiences of Czech Roma professionals in order to understand the relation between their ethnic affiliation and career development in terms of obstacles, strategies and relationships that enabled them to succeed in becoming professionals. The study produces knowledge that fills the empirical research gap about Roma professionals in the Czech Republic. Thematic analysis was used to analyze seven semi-structured interviews. The analysis concludes that the Roma professionals face obstacles that include the lack of cultural capital in families, gender-related obstacles, ‘Roma bubble’ and finally the racial prejudices and workplace incivility. However, the projects supporting Roma and a range of supportive relationships have the exceptionally important role in overcoming those obstacles. The study also contributes to the theoretical discussion about the link between social mobility of minorities and their identification. It shows that the processes of selective and consonant assimilation take place at the same time.