The "Gypsy" Stereotype

In America, the Roma are a minority with little recognition. The usual stereotype that the word "gypsy" brings to mind is at best, a free spirited person, and at worst, a cultural caricature. The common stereotype of who a "gypsy" is has been influenced in recent years by American popular culture, examples being TLC's show "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" and a few movies and songs, such as Shakira's 'Gypsy'- "I might steal your clothes and wear them if they fit me, I never made agreements, just like a gypsy". American knowledge of 'gypsies', and the Roma people in general, though, is limited. General knowledge is usually confined to the mysterious fortune-teller stereotype, or the sexualized, dramatized stereotypes that are perpetuated by shows like "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding", a clip from which can be see above. TLC's show strips all cultural context from the activities practiced by their 'reality' TV show, and promote further prejudices against the Roma, an already marginalized group of people. The show enforces the stereotype that Roma are uneducated and largely do not care about education, and also portrays the women as immodest and almost hyperseualized. In many cases, Roma people place great value in modesty, so TLC's generalization is as inaccurate as it is offensive. Take a few moments to watch some clips from the show, and although I remember seeing bits of this show when it came out, I now recognize the racist characature that was being portrayed and accepted by mainstream TV and TLC's viewers. The truly sad thing is that American media had an opportunity to cast the Roma- a little known community in the United States- in a positive light, since prejudice against Roma is less prominent in the United States than in Europe, where discrimination against Roma is institutionalized in some countries. A study of Roma in Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic found that infant mortality rate among Roma is twice that of non-Roma, and the number of Roma children living in shacks was 22% higher than the number of non-Roma. The point is, many Roma in Europe are living in poverty, largely because of direct racial discrimination perpetrated against them. It is crucial that popular media not enforce offensive, and harmful negative stereotypes against the Roma people.

#gypsy #TLC #America #TV