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.

I think a more suitable question for you to ask OP/ educate yourself about would be 'what is a gypsy?'

That is not answering the question, with respect

OP can you post more about the fashion/dress sense for men and women? Post or link to some pictures? (Of just the type of things people in your culture would wear rather than personal pictures).

Thank you, this was a good read.

I find it unfathomable why you aren’t horrified by widespread cultural decisions that so significantly limit girls and women’s choices. I wonder whether it’s because you yourself are so uneducated that you can’t grasp what an enormous disservice you are doing to your own daughters, and the girls of your entire community, by removing them from school before secondary on the spurious grounds of sex education. Without educated Gypsy women nothing will change, and your community will continue to face prejudice and hostility. This woman, Dr Sindy Joyce, a sociologist and the first Irish Traveller to get a PhD, has done enormous amounts of activist work to battle ongoing prejudice and her community’s horrifying male suicide rate, but she’s empowered by her education:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sindy-joyce-is-first-traveller-to-graduate-with-a-phd-in-ireland-1.3759198

https://limerick.academia.edu/SindyJoyce

https://www.travellersvoice.ie/2021/06/10/irish-travellers-access-to-justice/

Bit she, and lots of the other women working in Traveller activism in Ireland have made a difference because they pursued an education. You complain about prejudice and stereotyping, but what are you doing about it, and why are you blocking off the next generation’s access to something that can only empower and enhance their lives? Why are you so afraid of knowledge?

I think there's a lot of confusion about the differences between Travellers/Irish Travellers and Roma/Gypsies. I'm not suggesting one of these groups causes all the trouble and the other are saints but seems to me there is a prevailing theme of ASB here. Of course, there's good and bad in all communities but I suppose it's seen as disproportionate.
The Traveller women I see locally are quite distinct in their appearance - the make up is heavy, the clothes very revealing and flashy for going out or just PJ's in the supermarket so I can see how they stand out. The Roma woman I know selling The Big Issue wears traditional Eastern European clothes - headscarf, long skirt etc. This seems like two extremes so how do modern British gypsies dress?

@Craicbaby how patronising! The OP is clearly far far more intelligent than most of the people on this thread!

@GypsyAMA

We have Gypsy friends and nothing but positive experience for those who live and work around our area.

Us non Gypsies could certainly learn a thing or two when it comes to family values, hard work not to mention keeping the home clean and learning to cook.

The education system won't teach any child those basic life skills.

As for the mentions of leaving mess, thieving, not looking after their animals etc there are plenty non Gypsy people are messy and thieves. You only need to read MN to see how many people complain about their neighbours keeping untidy gardens, not walking their dogs etc.

Wishing you and your family nothing but love and best wishes. x

👍

If home education to university place achievement is a possibility for her children then why does the OP not mention it?

How?

Because most women can't accept that they are not entitled to the same life opportunities as men

And everyone needs education to get the best opportunities.

And most MNetters (I would guess) don't see keeping house as an ambition. I would think 'outside' SAHM do way more than keep an immaculate house, especially when their children are old enough for school

You can't deny that without GCSEs at least, employment and life opportunities are limited. And if the children are taken out of school young they don't know what they're missing

If she were, surely she’d grasp the disservice she’s doing her daughters by taking them out of school?

I'm sorry some posters are trying to make you accountable for bad/criminal behaviour , from others within your community and the travelling community.

Me being a foreigner having had no clue beyond some literature that gypsies existed. I am delighted to be friends with several as far as friendship can go without being apart of the community.

Since, learning about and meeting several from the gypsy community and travelling community, I honestly can't believe the amount of racism and prejudice that occurs daily and seems to be accepted by wider society. I say this as a woman of colour. I have myself faced racism and prejudice and wouldn't wish it on anyone. But, if it happens to me I am able to complain, press charges and fight against the injustice.

Do you feel you would be able to do the same?

I have to say my experience has been amazing. Some of the most open, honest, friendly and generous people I have ever met. Will literally give you the shirt off their backs if needed. They like yourself, hate the ones that ruin it for others through their behaviour. I have seen the damage that hate can bring upon others. It's ugly.

While, I may not agree with some of the cultural norms. Who am I to say anything? Each and every culture has their quirks and what is and not acceptable. Just because, I don't agree fully or understand the history that has brought it about doesn't make it wrong. It just makes it different to what we're use to.

If we are to stop hate, racism and prejudice we need to accept all cultures for who they are. Just because my belief system doesn't align with yours doesn't make it wrong or right. It just is.

Thank you, for doing this. Hopefully, it will help to stop some of the ignorance that you're having to face.

Do you speak in Romani op?
And you use Spanish cleaning products? 😄

I'm surprised how many people seem to think gypsies and travellers are the same thing. My understanding was that its travellers who take over, cause trouble and make a mess. Romany gypsies are a different kettle of fish. I only know of one romany family but they are very nice, respectable people and have a daughter my age who has a degree, post grad qualifications and a very good job...

How do you figure that?

but you say you chose and from what I can see you want to remove that choice from your daughters. What level was your education and (if I may make so bold) what job did you do before your fork in the road?

Why? Why wouldn't you want them safe from those hideous diseases?

I think it makes it wrong if it limits the freedom and choice of their children, especially their girl children. I would say this about any ethnicity.

But the adults go out to work. Younger children do go to school

They could bring back all sorts that could decimate the community

The education system will, on the other hand, provide them with fripperies like literacy and numeracy, a wide range of basic knowledge about the world, offer them exposure to a wide variety of subjects and disciplines in order for them to discover their own talents, access to the forms of higher education that would see them as potential Gypsy doctors, lawyers, engineers, activists, documentary makers etc etc , or indeed anything other than a circumscribed future being a SAHM who cleans three hours a day and blocks her own daughters’ education.

And yes, which includes education about sex, consent, healthy relationships etc.

The way they dress, the way they talk and the way they hold themselves.

It’s absolutely rife where I live. A few years ago a mare and foal were tethered and left by the side of the road. They developed some sort of digestive disease and were standing in their own filth. Locals used to bring them food and water. Nothing was done by any of the authorities, by which I mean RSPCA, police, council, other than a notice pinned up asking the owners to come forward. No one was allowed to do anything because the horses weren’t theirs. Vets were not allowed to intervene because the gypsies might come back. They didn’t and the mare and foal just lay down one day and died.

The people who left these horses were gypsies.

OP you said you’re « settled ». Do you live in an area with lots of other Roma? How do you get on with your non-Roma neighbours?
I don't really know them as I live detached and rural but I've always got in fine with everyone in the village.

Yes, but you seem to feel that your community is superior to the Irish Travelling Community. Are there not bad and good in equal measures in their community as well as you own ?
I certainly don't feel superior to anyone and hope I haven't given than impression

I understand from your thread that women look after the home/children - how would you feel if your kids did not want their own children (both sons or daughters)? As more women are becoming child free by choice, I didn’t know if this was also happening in your community? Thanks!
I'd be sad as I'm sure anyone would, but I don't really know anyone IRL who is child free by choice

Oh yeah - the anti vax stance is a bit culty too...
There's to 'cult' of anti vaxxers. In fact of my best friends, most of them have given vaccinations

The fact that girls know only “some stuff” about sex before marriage/having sex is truly disturbing regardless of “culture.” How utterly terrifying and unsafe for them.