Gypsies

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Are you proud of your culture and values? Do you have a strong sense of family? Do you respect older people and show human loyalty and compassion?

Of course you do do... But you are a gypsy.

Why does discrimination against Andalusian gypsies still exist today?

Some facts:

• 60% of all gypsies in Spain are found in Andalucía.
• Approximately 300,000 gypsies live in Andalucía.
• Some 100,000 gypsies in Andalucía are still "excluded" even by the authorities (papers not in order).
• The Social Affairs Ministry (under Javier Arenas) has earmarked for Andalucía only 20% of the whole country´s funding for integration of gypsies, when 60% of all gypsies in Spain are found in Andalucía.
• According to Social Services, absenteeism among gypsy schoolchildren has decreased in the last five years from 52% to only 20%, yet 10,000 gypsy children still do not go to school.

This is discrimination by another name:
marginalisation.

Romany Association

Young gypsies from 35 Romany Associations met up in Sevilla during November 1997 to discuss issues and create an organisation to defend their rights.

 

 

Some views:

• When it comes to having a good time, said 28 year old Mari Carmen Soto, a member of the Torre del Mar Gypsy Association in Velez-Málaga, gypsies are more "flamenco" than non-gypsies and tend to enjoy themselves singing and dancing, rather than going to a discotheque, but otherwise there is no difference to other young people.
• Love and family come before all else.
• We are not directly discriminated, but we do not have the same opportunities as others, said Mari Carmen Carrillo of Jaen. Gypsies prefer to marry gypsies, but if one marries a non-gypsy then it is the non-gypsy family that is reluctant to accept the gypsy than the other way round.
• Juan Antonio Bermudez (23 years old) said you can't go out with a gypsy girl or be involved sexually with her - it's either an official engagement or nothing. But you can go out with a non-gypsy girl in secret. It is the older gypsies (over 40 year olds) who warn against marrying a non-gypsy woman, because it gives a gypsy man a bad reputation.
• Juan Antonio Fernandez admits the relationship between the sexes among gypsies is more complicated because you have to ask the father's permission and commit yourself for life, rather than just go out on a date. Non-gypsies are more liberated.
• Constantino Cortés, chairman of the elders board of Romany Associations, acknowledges times have changed but still insists that a woman's place is in the home. Gypsy men do have complete freedom, and gypsy women have the same freedom as any other women, but inside the family environment.

Solution?

The conference urged young gypsies to learn about their heritage from their elders and fight to receive education.

Any solution?

 

Just communication, understanding and a great deal of patience. In fact the outlook is not so grim. Most flamenco gypsy families really do know how to enjoy themselves and do not feel marginalised!

 

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Content today's gypsies
© Simon Zolan 1997

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