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'The More Successful, the More Apolitical'. Romani Mentors' Mixed Experiences with an Intra-Ethnic Mentoring Project

Authors :
Bereményi, Bálint Ábel
Girós-Calpe, Roser
Source :
British Journal of Sociology of Education. 2021 42(5-6):881-897.
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

This paper discusses Romani mentors' mixed experiences, views and coping practices in an intra-ethnic 'natural mentoring' project targeting young Romani (more commonly known as 'Gypsy') students in Spain. The intervention transforms already existing intra-ethnic bonds into mentorships in local Spanish Romani communities. To meet the aims of this research, observations were conducted at mentors' follow-up meetings and other project activities, and individual semi-structured interviews were held with three female and three male mentors. The mentors' mixed views and experiences are analysed in four dimensions: competence, commitment, project operation and sociocultural change. From a critical stance, the results suggest that mentoring remains highly apolitical, having as its primary object 'people to be developed' and not the structure that is to do the developing. In this endeavour, mentoring is instrumentalized to create self-regulated 'active' citizens desiring to be acted upon through 'technologies of the self'.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0142-5692
Volume :
42
Issue :
5-6
Database :
ERIC
Journal :
British Journal of Sociology of Education
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
EJ1318151
Document Type :
Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2021.1941765