Gypsy girls

[Pickles77]

Whohoo episode two.... Here we go...

I didnt start from the beginning, is Bridget a gypsy too ? Why dont they like her ?

she is just quieter and an 'english traveller' was the phrase I think they used so I assume culturally different from the girls who are irish travellers. I like her . Bet she does okay by the end.

Bridget is an English traveller who got around 7 a's at GCSE.

I identify with Bridget to some degree.

She stayed at school longer and seems to come from a more conservative family (in terms of dress, mixing with non-travellers etc).

freckly I hope Bridget lasts as I don't thinks some of Thelma's comments were particularly great about the situation.

Did you see margarets makeup !! Hideous doesn't she own a mirror ???

Aah! Thanks, Yes i remember a girl saying she got bullied at school, didn't know there were English travellers, surprising what you pick up from these silly reality programs sometimes.

Is this on every sunday night ?

I've just watched this and I really feel sorry for poor Bridget. I hated Thelma's comment about how Bridget "doesn't do herself any favours", the poor girl just wants to keep her head down and get on with it and the others don't like her because they know she will show them up.

I'm having flashbacks to being bullied in school watching this. I really hope Bridget is strong enough to keep going and achieve something from this. What a shame all those brains may go to waste otherwise .

I couldn't understand the negativity towards her either I like her best! She has been bullied everywhere as she just wants to get on

I saw this last night.

I was annoyed too about the comments re not doing herself any favours. So in order to avoid having pins stuck in her she has to dress in a way she doesn't like or feel comfortable in, or try to pretend to be like the others when frankly they wouldn't like her or accept her even if she did.

Poor girl. Bullied at school for being a "pikey" :( Bullied by the other travellers for not being enough like them. She can't win.

Hoe do you get anywhere though when even the parents condone stabbing with pins and say it's just a laugh.

It seems so confused. The girls dress really tartily, yet are scandalised by non-travelling people's behaviour. Seems pretty contradictory - no sex, demanding chaperones etc, yet even young girls dresses outrageously. Seems to be a very violent life (the kids fighting, inc 17 yr old girl with older cousins/brothers, dm the lot :(

Unbelievable that the bully girl was allowed back but hardly surprising, thelma knows which side her bread is buttered

Thelma doesn't take any rubbish! Feel sorry for Bridget, must be an awful feeling.

I love thelma and would hold her coat in a fight
those girls have no respect they are so immature I guess it is the lack of education and self awareness that gets me, they are being forced to grow up quickly yet still young girls,
I just cant get over how out of control they are yet demand people respect them
, they are not all like that though I think they are focusing on the trouble makers like margaret and shannon and not showing the other girls.

I felt the "she doesn't do herself any favours!" was aimed at Bridget looking down on the others for wearing the tutu's and her mother and aunt's attitudes towards the other girls. I think Bridget would succeed well under Thelma but maybe her shyness comes across as rudeness.

But was she looking down on the other girls for wearing the tutus? She said she didn't want to dress like that and preferred a longer skirt. I would too. No way would I go out in anything even about the knee (got horrible legs)

She seems very shy and quiet, so probably didn't even want to wear that basque thing. She didn't bling hers up either. Getting her to dress in a way that she's uncomfortable with or doesn't fit with her style or self image isn't fair, and imo asking too much .

She seems very shy and quiet, so probably didn't even want to wear that basque thing. She didn't bling hers up either. Getting her to dress in a way that she's uncomfortable with or doesn't fit with her style or self image isn't fair, and imo asking too much

I agree with you she shouldn t have to conform to learn how to make dresses although saying that she is going to be making dresses that she doesnt agree with IYSWIM,

You don't have to wear the dresses you make though. I can't see Thelma stepping out in any of those dresses either!

Just because she doesn't want to dress like that doesn't mean she has a fundamental principle against the dresses.

She may object though i dunno she doesnt like flesh showing etc I liked her she had her head screwed on and wants to get on with it

Yes, I thought she was v. brave and determined and gutsy actually, with all she's been through (bullying at school, bullying from the other travellers etc)

Have you seen Katharine Quarmby's comments? - to locate them google under 'Thelma's Gypsy Girls' - because she seems to have good grasp of what is going on. There have been a few programmes about Irish gipsies in recent times and it seems to me that they are at the same stage of development as the English gipsies were about 50 years ago. (I am thinking in particular of 'fighting for their name' as espoused by Mr Doherty of BB fame, and others.) Thelma needs the girls to sort out their status issues without the death threats . It is a pity that those girls taking part cannot grasp the importance of putting their own egos aside for the purposes of learning.