To feel a bit miffed about the Big Fat Gypsy series?

[NannyState]

I dunno. It just doesn't sit comfortably with me. I am third generation Irish Traveller. My grandparents 'married out' and so left the community. However, I still identify with the culture to some extent and am proud to be from Traveller stock.

I know that there are elements of the Traveller culture and traditions that are old fashioned, conservative and certainly not female-friendly. I am a in no way defending a lot of what goes on within Traveller communities.

However, I really feel like the 'Big fat Gypsy Wedding' series is just taking the piss out of Travellers, really, and I cannot see C4 having the gall to do that with any other cultural group.

Am I alone in this? It isn't telling even half the story of the Travller experience. And it doesn't feel like a genuine, documentary 'glimpse into Traveller culture', it just feels (to me) like an excuse to all have a good laugh at the chavtastic pikeys and their big meringue dresses'

I feel the same and I am not remotely connected to traveller culture (as far as I know).

But it isn't supposed to be an overview of Traveller culture is it? It's billed as a program about Traveller weddings.

People will take what they want from it. It does give a window into a community that most people know very little about.

NS I think you are correct with your assumption that it's an excuse for a giggle at their expense (not that I watched it), but I imagine that's probably why most viewers watched it?

I agree - I said the same to DH last night

I'm just watching it now (recorded it last night). I look like this

I'd love to know how much their dresses cost!

TakeItOnTheChins

..erm..."normal people" ?

I really liked the one-off they did last year.

Everyone was so excited, and it was lovely. (Apart from Joan, but she has a job practical soul that she clearly is having ditched that guy)

Not keen on what I have heard about the new series.

Do you know much about grabbing? What it is about?

Your attitude is lovely, TakeItOnTheChin .

I suppose you're right@parakeet. C4 haven't even tried to pretend it is about anything other than laughing at the dresses and perpetuating lazy stereotypes .

We could all sit around and poke fun at the aspects of other people's cultures we find odd, though, couldn't we? I think it's piss poor that C4 have made a whole series out of this 'concept'.

Swanley is the name of a very rundown town quite near me.

Why be sensitive about it? youve used the phrase 'all have a good laugh at the chavtastic pikeys and their big meringue dresses' ....
the brides all seemed thrilled with their frocks, certainly not everyines taste, but they liked them.. I thought the community got a fairly good perspective of editing from C4 - at not point did they venture into the murky world of where does the cash come from etc, more explain about the importance of they key dates in the culture and priority of dress..
I was stunned and mouthed at first series, and yes did have a giggle, but more interested in how it all works - marriage at 16 in uk is so unusual otherwise
I ahve friends in dublin who's childrens schools ban anything other than school uniform for first communion due to the infultration of 'dress ceremony' taking away from the actual meaning of the event - so I was facinated to see more on that!

OK, I shall ignore you Take It On The Chin...

Grabbing is an odd phenomenon. I haven't really grown up with much of it (although have had a few 'grabs' as a young girl) and so it isn't something I am comfortable with, really.

Attitudes to sex and relationships are quite odd within the modern Traveller community. Its as if very old fashioned, deeply Conservative and catholic morals have clashed with 21st century, overly sexualised culture and it's all got very mixed up and a bit warped. It isn't so bad in Ireland, though, at least not where my family originally hail from. The Travellers there are still very old fashioned an the girls 6and^ boys are much more sheltered than those in the programme.

They aren't actually filming travellers. They are filming static gyspys. [pedantic]

They aren't actually filming travellers. They are filming static gyspys. [pedantic]

I do feel sensitive about it, oggybogs, mainly because I have seen loads of comments on twitter and FB today and last night absolutely gunning Travellers and laughing at their expense.

I just don't think people would be quite so brave about disrespecting other cultures. But gypsies (who uses that word? Not Travellers themselves, certainly) are fair game...

Travellers are travellers whether they live on the road or in a house.

I agree@marriedafrog. It isn't pleasant, although in my experience, it isn't quite as depicted in last night's programme.

NS, I watched the show last night, found it interesting, taught me a lot I didn't know about. But I did wonder about just how homogenous (?sp) Traveller society is. Was it representative of all Travellers or just a subsection?

And it's going to be about more than the wedding dresses, isn't it? The trailer for next week looked like pretty serious stuff.