From Citizens to Consumers: How Populist Individualism and Trump’s Politics Threaten Roma Women’s Rights

As a Roma woman and feminist activist, I’ve come to realize that the world often sees us—if it sees us at all—not as citizens with rights and voices but as outsiders, even burdens, treated as if we don’t belong in the countries we live in. But it’s more than that. In his work, political theorist Benjamin Barber talks about the shift from seeing ourselves as “citizens” to seeing ourselves as “consumers”, warning that if we keep replacing citizenship with consumerism, democracy itself is at risk. This might sound abstract, but for communities like mine, it has real-life consequences, especially when leaders like Donald Trump embody this mindset of extreme individualism and consumerism. And as someone who lives in this world as a Roma woman, I see how this shift doesn’t just affect society as a whole, but impacts us in very specific, painful ways; it actively endangers our rights, safety, and future prospects, particularly in areas like bodily autonomy, public welfare, and protection from racial discrimination.

1. Barber’s Theory: The Consumer vs. the Citizen

In Barber’s view, democracy needs citizens—people who care about the community, are invested in the public good, believe in equality and justice, who want to make society better for everyone. Citizens act not just out of self-interest but with a sense of shared responsibility. Democracy, Barber argues, depends on this citizenship mindset because a healthy society requires people to care for one another, to work toward equity, and to hold leaders accountable for the common good[1].

But in a world driven by global capitalism, Barber argues[2], we’re trained to be consumers. When we become “consumers,” our mindset changes. As consumers, we’re taught to focus on personal fulfillment, focusing on things like personal profit, consumption, and self-satisfaction, we’re taught to prioritize what we want over what society needs not collective wellbeing. We measure success by what we own or achieve individually rather than by what we contribute to society.

This transformation is about more than just economics or cultural preferences. We end up isolated, not concerned with social responsibility, disconnected from one another, and even less concerned about the struggles of marginalized groups. It erodes civic engagement, undermines democracy, and creates an environment where individual gains are prioritized, even at the expense of vulnerable groups. Leaders like Donald Trump exploit this individualism, appealing to personal grievances over collective action and using a populist, “me first” rhetoric. His focus on self-interest and nationalist ideals erodes social responsibility and democratic participation, making it easy for leaders to ignore or actively harm marginalized groups.

For Roma women, this is especially harmful. Already treated as outsiders, we’ve had to rely on collective responsibility to fight for our rights and needs. But when society values only individual gain, it becomes much harder to advocate for public resources or policies that benefit everyone. Politicians are less likely to support programs that help marginalized communities, because their focus has shifted from the public good to appealing to people’s individual desires. Barber calls this process de-democratization[3], and for Roma women, it’s a serious threat. Trump’s supporters often rallied around promises of personal economic benefits or national pride, with little consideration for how his policies would harm minorities, immigrants, and marginalized communities. For democracy and for social justice, this shift from citizen to consumer has serious consequences. When we stop acting as citizens who protect each other, those who are already marginalized, like Roma women, lose even the limited protections they have.

2. Trump’s Populism and Its Impact on Marginalized Women

This shift from citizen to consumer is more than just an idea—it’s reflected in the political rise of leaders like Donald Trump. Trump’s “America First” rhetoric is the perfect example of this consumer-driven mindset. He didn’t ask people to care about each other or about democracy; he asked them to focus on their own personal gain, using fear and anger to convince his followers that others—immigrants, people of color, minorities—were threats to their success.

In Europe, where populist leaders are increasingly adopting Trump-like rhetoric, anti-Roma discrimination is on the rise and we’re seeing leaders adopt the same kind of populist, individualistic rhetoric. In countries like Hungary, Poland, and even Romania, we’re seeing leaders who want to frame everything as a zero-sum game: if they’re helping “true citizens” (usually the majority population), they can justify ignoring or even harming marginalized groups[4].

For Roma women, this political trend isn’t just frustrating—it’s terrifying. This is more than just words—it shapes real policies. For Roma women, who already face intersectional discrimination as Roma, as women, and as individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, this kind of political climate magnifies their struggles. Under populist leaders inspired by Trump, social programs that provide vital support for low-income families are often defunded or cut entirely. For example, housing support programs that help Roma families are often labeled as “handouts” or “welfare abuse,”[5] and as a result, Roma women, many of whom rely on these services for basic healthcare and housing, are forced into impossible situations. This narrative fuels resentment against our communities, pushing Roma women further into poverty and vulnerability.

In Italy, many Roma families have faced forced evictions without being offered any viable alternatives for housing, often leaving them homeless or in unstable living conditions. In one case, families from the Roma community were forced to leave their homes in Rome without notice and were relocated to temporary camps with inadequate facilities. These evictions are part of a broader trend across Europe, where Roma communities are frequently subjected to discriminatory housing policies that prioritize the interests of the majority population[6]. Stories like that are not isolated; they’re the direct result of policies that prioritize the interests of the majority, leaving people like us behind.

3. Body Autonomy and Reproductive Rights: Roma Women on the Frontlines

One of the most alarming aspects of Trump’s influence is the impact on women’s reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. Trump’s term saw the rollback of abortion rights in the United States, overturning Roe v. Wade. This decision has gone far beyond America’s borders, sending a powerful message to conservative, populist leaders around the world that it’s acceptable—even desirable—to control women’s bodies and restrict reproductive freedoms.

For Roma women, who already struggle to access reproductive healthcare, Trump’s influence on body autonomy is especially dangerous. In Eastern Europe, there’s a history of forced sterilizations of Roma women, a brutal practice aimed at controlling our population. While forced sterilization is no longer legal, discrimination in healthcare is far from over. Many Roma women continue to face serious barriers when it comes to accessing reproductive healthcare, with doctors refusing treatment or providing inadequate care simply because of racial bias[7].

As reproductive rights become more restricted worldwide, I worry that these barriers will only grow. These restrictions don’t affect everyone equally; they disproportionately harm those of us who already lack resources and support. This lack of autonomy not only violates basic human rights but also reinforces the cycles of poverty and exclusion that Roma women face. When leaders like Trump normalize and promote restrictive policies on reproductive health, they empower other governments to do the same, making it even harder for Roma women to control their own lives.

4. Consumer-Driven Politics and Their Concrete Effects on Roma Women

When politics become about catering to “consumers” rather than protecting “citizens,” public services are often seen as wasteful expenses, and those who depend on them are seen as less deserving. Under this mindset, programs that provide social welfare, healthcare, and education are viewed as burdens on the system, rather than as essential tools for social justice. For Roma women, who are often denied access to jobs, healthcare, and housing due to discrimination, these cuts mean the difference between having a chance at a stable life or facing poverty and exclusion. We end up on the losing end, forced to navigate systems that don’t even pretend to care about us.

The impact of these cuts on Roma women’s lives is hard to overstate. There are multiple cases of Roma women who have gone without essential healthcare simply because the hospitals in their areas don’t have resources or because they’ve been turned away due to discrimination. A Romani woman in Hungary endured severe harassment while giving birth at a hospital, where staff made racist remarks and treated her abusively.[8] Cases like hers illustrate the impact of ingrained biases and a healthcare system that often segregates and mistreats Roma women. According to several studies, many Roma mothers report being placed in substandard, isolated wards and denied access to proper medical care unless they provide extra payment[9]. Stories like theirs are not isolated; they are the consequence of policies that prioritize individual gain over collective wellbeing. Their experience isn’t unique; it’s a symptom of a system that values “cost-saving” over human life.

5. Reclaiming Citizenship and Collective Responsibility

For Roma women, defending our rights means fighting against this individualistic, consumer-focused world. We have to reject the idea that we’re just consumers who need to fend for ourselves. Instead, we must reclaim our roles as citizens, with the right to equal treatment, resources, and opportunities. Roma activists are leading movements to protect our rights, to push back against discrimination, and to demand access to services that are taken for granted by others. This movement isn’t just about us; it’s about creating a society where everyone—no matter their background—is seen and valued.

In my activism, I’ve seen how powerful it is when we come together as a community, when we speak out not just as individuals but as part of a collective. When we act as citizens, not consumers, we can demand that our leaders treat us with respect and recognize our worth. For Roma women, this fight is personal, because it’s not only about protecting democracy; it’s about reclaiming our dignity and our right to be seen as equal members of society. Solidarity and advocacy are our most powerful tools in resisting the populist individualism that threatens democracy and our rights.

6. Conclusion: Standing Up for Democracy and Roma Women’s Rights

Trump’s politics of individualism and nationalism may seem distant, but their influence affects Roma women’s lives deeply. We cannot afford to let leaders tell us that we don’t belong, that our communities don’t matter, or that we’re on our own. We cannot afford to live in a world where our voices, rights, and futures are ignored by leaders who only see us as consumers or “outsiders.”

For Roma women, rejecting the “consumer” mindset is a matter of survival. For Roma women, democracy is more than just a political system; it’s our hope for recognition, justice, and a fair shot at life. Our communities need policies that recognize our rights, that see us as citizens with voices, not as outsiders to be disregarded.

To build a fairer, freer world, we must demand democracy that includes everyone, where leaders care about all of us—not just those who fit the majority. For Roma women, for all marginalized communities, and for the future of true democracy, we must stand together in creating a society that sees us all as citizens, each with an equal stake in the world we share.

[1] Benjamin R. Barber, “The Near-Death of Democracy,” World Policy Journal, vol. 25 (Duke University Press, season-04 2008), 141–51, https://www.jstor.org/stable/40210131.

[2] Barber, “The Near-Death of Democracy,” 25:141–51.

[3] Barber, “The Near-Death of Democracy,” 25:146.

[4] Richard Wike et al., “European Public Opinion Three Decades After the Fall of Communism,” October 2019, 86, https://www.pewresearch.org.

[5] Human Rights Watch, “WORLD REPORT 2021,” 2021, 316, https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2021/01/2021_hrw_world_report.pdf.

[6] Jonathan Lee, “Italy’s Roma forced eviction crisis demands EU action,” Al Jazeera, May 26, 2021, https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/5/26/italys-roma-forced-eviction-crisis-demands-eu-action.

[7] European Roma Rights Centre et al., “COERCIVE AND CRUEL: STERILISATION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR ROMANI WOMEN IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC (1966-2016),” report (European Roma Rights Centre, 2016), 5–25, https://www.errc.org/uploads/upload_en/file/coercive-and-cruel-28-november-2016.pdf.

[8] “Romani Woman Harassed by Racist Hospital Staff during Childbirth Wins Case - European Roma Rights Centre,” European Roma Rights Centre, n.d., https://www.errc.org/press-releases/romani-woman-harassed-by-racist-hospital-staff-during-childbirth-wins-case.

[9] Nmrz, “The Dehumanization of Roma Mothers in Bulgarian Hospitals,” Menschenrechte - Der Blog., March 7, 2023, https://www.menschenrechte.org/blog/the-dehumanization-of-roma-mothers-in-bulgarian-hospitals/.