Mayte C. Martín
Thesis title: Roma and Sinti: A Cultural Sociological Study
Supervisor: Dr Iarfhlaith Watson
Biographical Note:
My current research will seek to contribute to and place itself in line with the notions of American cultural sociologists, who distancing themselves from the sociology of culture, support the idea that culture is not a contingency of social structure but rather an independent web of significance capable of shaping social life. Using a sociological framework my study will look at certain cultural aspects of the Roma and Sinti communities and analyse the way they impact on their social structure.
My interest for the Roma peoples also influenced the dissertation I completed for my Master’s degree, which I hope to publish shortly. Titled ‘Anti – Gypsyism in the Irish Independent’, my dissertation focuses on anti-Gypsyism, that is, the particular racial discrimination that Roma peoples suffer. The aim of the study is to uncover the contribution of the Irish Independent to the production of anti-Gypsyism from a Critical Discourse Analysis approach. This methodology is concerned with the ideologies embedded in the texts and by analysing the discursive and stylistic strategies activated by the Irish Independent, my dissertation shows how this newspaper supports and legitimises the repatriation of Roma families.
I have extensive experience managing European funded projects aimed at combating discrimination. During the time that I was involved in these projects I was instrumental in the development of a cultural mediation model for the Irish health sector. I have spoken at conferences and seminars at local, national and European level. In addition to this, I have participated in publications and academic papers relating to a variety of topics including intercultural communications, cultural mediation, language, interpreting, and minority ethnic communities among others. Previously I lectured for several years in the School of Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies, Dublin City University where I was responsible for the teaching, preparation, and coordination of courses on Spanish language, translation and interpreting to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. I was also strongly involved in University cross cultural activities and had the opportunity to act as supervisor of the ERASMUS programme for an academic year.
Between 2002 and 2008 I coordinated the following projects:
- EQUAL Roma Cultural Mediation Project (RCMP), funded by the European Fund and aimed at providing Roma people with greater equality of access to health, social, educational and probation services. (http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/equal/practical-examples/asyl-06-ie-roma_en.cfm)
- EurEquality Project, funded by the EU Community Action Plan to Combat Discrimination, was established with the purpose of creating an Informal network among the anti-discrimination agencies of Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Ireland, Belgium and Finland.
- JOIN Project (Joint promotion with Finnish and German partners) was financed under the European Commission Community Action. Its primary objectives were to promote local dialogue between groups exposed to discrimination and local authorities.
I am particularly interested in cultural sociology. The areas that I study include Roma peoples, media, language, critical discourse analysis and semiotics.
I received my MSocSc (lst class honours) in Sociology in UCD in 2011, a Masters Degree in International Relations and Communications, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain and Bachelors Degree in English Philology (Literature and Linguistics), Universidad de Salamanca, Spain.
Conference Presentations:
‘Cultural Mediation in Schools’, presentation at the conference Diversity Key to Ireland’s Future, organised by ELSTA (English Language Support Teacher’s Association) – Dublin, Oct 2nd, 2010
‘Roma Cultural Mediation Project’, presentation at the conference organised by the Murcia Region to close their participation in the EQUAL Community Initiative programme – Murcia, Spain, Nov 14 -15th, 2007
‘Future of Cultural Mediation’, presentation at the closure of EQUAL community initiative – Brussels, Belgium, Oct 18th, 2007
‘Providing Roma people with greater equality of access to health services’, presentation at the conference Participation of Ethnic Communities in Primary Care Service, Design, Planning and Delivery, organised by HSE and NUI – Galway, Jan 26th, 2007
‘The young Roma community in Dublin and the role of the Roma Support Group’, presentation at the conference organised by the project Early Warning, funded by the European Refugee Fund in Essen, Germany, Jan 17th, 2005
‘JOIN project and the promotion of joint initiatives against discrimination’, presentation at the conference EU Community Action Plan to Combat Discrimination organised by the Region of Madrid, Spain, Nov 7th, 2003
Publications:
Martín M. and Phelan M. (2010) ‘Interpreters and Cultural Mediators - different but complementary roles’, Translocations: Migration and Social Change, Peer reviewed, Vol. 6, Issue 1.
Martín M. (2008) ‘The Roma Population in Europe: a brief look at the Situation in Ireland’, Translocations: Migration and Social Change, Review Vol. 4 Issue 1.
Martín and Hibernian Consulting (2008) Fitting In: How cultural mediation supports the integration of the Roma Community in Ireland, Roma Cultural Mediation Project Funded by the European Social Fund
Co-author of Irish Girl Guides Outreach Pack (2008)
Co-author of NWICN Intercultural Toolkit for Service Providers (2008)
Minervino S. and Martín M. (2007) ‘Cultural Competence and Cultural Mediation: Diversity Strategies and Practices in Health Care’, Translocations: Migration and Social Change, Review Vol. 1, Issue 2.
Co-author of ‘Guidelines for Intercultural Best Practice in Local Service Provision’ (2003). This publication received a MAMA - Media and Multicultural Award
Martín M. and Vilchez B. 1999 ‘The Legality of the Gulf War’ published in the Spanish International Press publication ‘AMANECER’ (Año II - Número 89)
Translations:
2012 Andreas Hess Modernización Reluctante: Cultura Plebeya y Economía Moral en el País Vasco, Donostia: Hiria
Awards Obtained:
I was the recipient of the Patrick Clancy Award 2011 given to the student who achieves 1st Class Honours and the highest grade in the year in the Sociology Masters programme.
