Gypsies: Misconceptions Of The Romani Culture
Author’s Note
Gypsies are a Romani ethnic group whose ancestors migrated from India to Europe in the 1300’s. They are a nomadic group with a distinctive way of living in todays society. These Romani people have created their own sort of language, professions, social structure, customs, mores, and spiritual beliefs. These things have made them the unique subculture they are. Because they are so different from the norm in society, there are many misconceptions of the Romani people. Most of these misunderstandings are due to the media.
There have been many television shows claiming to be about the Gypsy subculture. These television shows have somewhat glamorized or dramaticized the Romani way of life. These drastic images have caused people …show more content…
Gypsies are sometimes called very rude names that would constitute harassment, “stinky gypo” is one of those names. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Travelling gypsies never actually wash in a sink, however, they have separate cleaning bowls for everything. One bowl is for washing up, one for washing their hands and face, and another for cleaning. They even keep separate bowls for the top half of the body and the lower half because the do not want to “contaminate” anything (Leeson). The Romani people actually take great pride in keeping their caravans clean and even have shiny displays of china and glass in their …show more content…
To support and look after one another is the meaning of a family for the Romani people. Elders of the community are cared for and respected within their families. Gypsies would not consider putting elderly relatives into nursing homes. Children are the main focus of Gypsy families, as they are the future of the subculture. Society’s impression of Gypsies can be the opposite of the truth. For an example, there are some myths and riddles about Romani people stealing children, but in fact there are many examples of Gypsies having their own children taken from them. Between 1923 and 1973 the children’s state-run charity ‘Pro Juventute’ in Switzerland removed 619 Gypsy children from their parents and placed them in homes with new Swiss parents or in institutions (Simko). The project’s intention was to destroy the Romani
Gypsies are a Romani ethnic group whose ancestors migrated from India to Europe in the 1300’s. They are a nomadic group with a distinctive way of living in todays society. These Romani people have created their own sort of language, professions, social structure, customs, mores, and spiritual beliefs. These things have made them the unique subculture they are. Because they are so different from the norm in society, there are many misconceptions of the Romani people. Most of these misunderstandings are due to the media.
There have been many television shows claiming to be about the Gypsy subculture. These television shows have somewhat glamorized or dramaticized the Romani way of life. These drastic images have caused people …show more content…
Gypsies are sometimes called very rude names that would constitute harassment, “stinky gypo” is one of those names. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Travelling gypsies never actually wash in a sink, however, they have separate cleaning bowls for everything. One bowl is for washing up, one for washing their hands and face, and another for cleaning. They even keep separate bowls for the top half of the body and the lower half because the do not want to “contaminate” anything (Leeson). The Romani people actually take great pride in keeping their caravans clean and even have shiny displays of china and glass in their …show more content…
To support and look after one another is the meaning of a family for the Romani people. Elders of the community are cared for and respected within their families. Gypsies would not consider putting elderly relatives into nursing homes. Children are the main focus of Gypsy families, as they are the future of the subculture. Society’s impression of Gypsies can be the opposite of the truth. For an example, there are some myths and riddles about Romani people stealing children, but in fact there are many examples of Gypsies having their own children taken from them. Between 1923 and 1973 the children’s state-run charity ‘Pro Juventute’ in Switzerland removed 619 Gypsy children from their parents and placed them in homes with new Swiss parents or in institutions (Simko). The project’s intention was to destroy the Romani