Photo Essay: Stela Savin, challenging gender stereotypes in Moldova
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“I am honouring our Roma traditions. I am never going to abandon them. However, I don’t want to leave school and training and get married. I have a dream and I am going to do all I can to make it happen. I don’t know why girls think they can’t do the same as boys do?”
Stela Savin comes from a Roma family and attends the eighth grade in Hînceşti, central Moldova. Her dream is to become a world boxing champion. Her two older sisters had played sports when they were younger, but had to stop when they got married.
Often, Roma girls in Moldova tend to get married early, to a man chosen by their families. Many of them leave school to start a family.
Stela respects her family and works hard, but in return she asks them to support her own life choices. Luckily for her, she has their full support.
See the full photo essay at UN Women Europe and Central Asia website.