By Lyn Whaley
Gypsies make up approximately 10% of the population of Eastern Europe. The politically correct term for them is "Romanies". They are among the poorest of the poor and face many kinds of discrimination. Although most people believe gypsies originated in Egypt, they actually came from India.
When we were in Serbia, a young "Roma" woman in her 20's came to talk to us about her life and aspirations. As a college graduate with a career, she networks with Romani girls and women to help improve their future and serves as a symbol of what they can become. These are some facts we learned from her:
Gypsies make up approximately 10% of the population of Eastern Europe. The politically correct term for them is "Romanies". They are among the poorest of the poor and face many kinds of discrimination. Although most people believe gypsies originated in Egypt, they actually came from India.
When we were in Serbia, a young "Roma" woman in her 20's came to talk to us about her life and aspirations. As a college graduate with a career, she networks with Romani girls and women to help improve their future and serves as a symbol of what they can become. These are some facts we learned from her:
Emma, a well educated and feminist Roma
- most live in settlements of poor housing outside of towns
- they traditionally have large families as men pride themselves on the number of children they have
- Roma children are discriminated against in school, so many of them drop out
- employers regularly discriminate against Romanies
- alcoholism and domestic violence are very common
- women are subservient to men
- music is an important part of every family
FAMOUS GYPSIES :
Charlie Chaplin
Pablo Picasso
Yul Brenner
and possibly Elvis Presley, depending on the source of information
