The lives of ethnic women are particularly curtailed because they face a double burden of discrimination, a conference on women and racism was told yesterday. Kitty Holland reports.
"They face both sexism and racism," said Ms Martha Hannan of the National Women's Council. "And the kind of racism that women from minority ethnic groups experience is different to that experienced by men - whether this is discrimination based on women's experience of child bearing, the wearing of traditional clothing or other gendered activities."
Ms Margaret Ward, of the Tullamore Traveller Movement, said Travellers faced discrimination in all walks of life, and that the worst aspect of it in day-to-day life was the embarrassment. They were refused access to services in shops, pubs, and launderettes.
"But more importantly, institutionalised racism affects their accommodation, education, health status and general standard of living," said Ms Ward.
Ms Judith Magaji, of the Longford African Women's Group, said the sooner Irish society regarded the arrival of immigrants as a positive thing the better for all individuals.
"This is, I believe, both positive and possible," said Ms Magaji.
Ms Hannan said that as the State celebrated World Refugee Day on June 20th, it was time "the Government recognises the right to work for asylum-seekers. Without the right to work, women asylum-seekers are kept in limbo, financially dependent on the State or their partners.
She called for an end to direct provision for asylums-seekers, increased commitment to inter-culturalism in schools and the introduction of anti-racism training for all government staff and decision makers.