I'm just an average gypsy AMA

[GypsyAMA]

I've noticed a lot of hatred towards gypsies on here so I thought I'd answer any questions anyone may have that could help you to understand my culture more. You might still disagree with many aspects, but at least you'll be coming from facts and not stereotypes.

These are not gypsies, they are travellers who travel around the country wreaking havoc wherever they go and costing council tax payers millions.
True gypsies do not behave like that

Hi op

just reposting my post from yesterday- I believe you may have missed it. i appreciate some questions have been answered by you

grateful if can shed any light on the rest please!

Thank you for this thread!

do you do arranged marriages or is that not done

How did you meet your husband

do you have children. If so how many?

I had a friend when I was 14, she was a Romany gypsy from Poland and only ever wore skirts. She also said she was worried about being ‘stolen’ as in by a boy. By that she meant a boy she knew might take her whilst out and about and have sex with her. There was nothing she could do and that would mean she was married to him.

her parents were diligent about her outings as they weren’t that keen on this happening even though it was their culture. This did happen unfortunately and she left school abruptly. I never saw her again but got a call from her years later. She was calling me in hiding from the bathroom and confirmed she’d been taken and had 2 kids

I never was able to get in touch with her but it’s something that’s always played on my mind.

I appreciate this might be very different to what you know but I wondered if you knew a little about it/could shed some light on it?

What do the children do once they leave school? Do they start working?

If women find themselves in abusive situations, what are they supposed to do with no education and no career? Do they really have a choice to exit a bad marriage given so few resources?

@GypsyAMA

“ I just wouldn't let them go to a secondary school setting.“

why? Just out of interest

Reading the posts I'm thinking that most of the behaviours attributed to 'gypsies ' eg intimidation, dodgy building work, camping illegally and leaving a hell of a mess, violence etc is behaviour associated with (a minority, not all) Irish traveller communities rather than Roma and - do you call us gorja? simply don't know the difference between the two groups?

I seem to have given the impression that there are no gypsies in school or college. That's not true but they are definitely a small percentage.

I'll attempt to answer the question of why I wouldn't allow my own children to go to secondary school as I appreciate it's been asked a lot.

In British culture, it's normal at that age to start experimenting with relationships, sex, drinking etc and that just doesn't align with our values. Also trans ideology. I appreciate that for you these things might be a normal part of growing up, but they're just not acceptable in my culture.

Can I ask if there are many openly gay gypsies?

But why is that limited to school? When do you allow boys and girls to mix?

Would you send girls to a single sex school?

Sorry I missed it!

We don't do arranged marriage

I met my husband at a social event

I have a couple of children but would like more

I imagine the culture must be very different in Poland as I've never heard of anything like that happening here. Poor lady I hope she's okay

Apologies, wrong thread! Have reported

Boys and girls can mix in groups, but they can't date without other people around until they are old enough. This varies from family to family and of course some have relationships in secret and don't tell their parents until they are older.

Usually when a boy and girl have been in a relationship that they would like to continue and 'come out' to their families, the boy goes to the girls dad and asks to court his daughter. He will then ask a second time for marriage later down the line.

Until they are 'asked for' they wouldn't go to one another's homes or anything like that. Of course there are no sleepovers or anything like that until they are married.

OP - would I be correct in thinking that there is probably a big difference between the travelling community of Irish background, and Roma Gypsies ? And is it frustrating for you when incorrect assumptions are made ?

How on earth can you be so stressed about the children learning a bit about sex? I'm sorry, I dont 'get it.

This is a ridiculously personal question so, notwithstanding AMA, I understand if you don't want to answer it:

If you're all so completely protected from knowing about sex, experimenting etc, isn't it a) terrifying when you do get around to doing it and b) doesn't that impact your enjoyment long term.

I grew up in a fairly conservative community and while I wasn't from a particularly religious family, it was crammed down our throats broadly. I am not the only one of my extended friendship group from that time who has found it more difficult to have normal healthy sexual relationships.

😂 I'm on that other thread, too!

Actually - a question about marriage/relationships. I noticed that you said that you were married at 21, but in my experience, girls are often married at a very young age (under 16 when not in UK). Is this a general thing ?

I really appreciate your AMA and your responses so far.

I think in response to your post here it's because, for me anyway, women worked so hard to be able to be educated, to be equal, to be anything they wanted to be that to then 'take' that from them is barmy!

You said that your husband was anti vax. But now your DC are vaccinated?

And seemingly all because of sex education.

It's incoherent.

I think that post has caused confusion, the comment about my husband was in reference to school. My DC are not vaccinated but that was my choice

I think that was my mistake, as well, actually.

People definitely used to get married younger, but it's much more common these days to get married at around 20-25 I'd say.

I think Irish travellers still get married a lot younger as far as I know, maybe that's the confusion

Why do you disagree with vaccinations? No education and no vaccines for your children, why do you want them so disadvantaged?