While all women are affected by inequalities in a range of areas, Roma women face additional challenges as extreme poverty, exclusion and discrimination reinforce their disadvantages even further. In core areas of life, such as education, employment and health, Roma women fare worse than Roma men and than women in the general population. In addition, Roma women, especially those who marry and start a family at a very young age while living in severely deprived material and housing conditions, are even more disadvantaged and at risk of exclusion and marginalisation.