Ethnic Culture and Culture of Poverty: the Gypsy/Roma Essay

Similarly, to “Feliks Skrzynecki”, it is shown here in “Migrant Hostel” how one’s identity can influence another, only that the identity referred to here is

As defined above, ethnicity is the shared customs, values and beliefs that the cultural group shares that set them apart from other groups. The religion described within Knauft’s research is applicable to majority of those elements, making it a vital part of kogwayay. One of the Gebusi’s traditions is presented in the suicide description of chapter three. Dugawe, one of the men of tribe, was found after hanging himself, and in Gebusi tradition the women massage the body and cover themselves in the bodily fluids oozing from the decomposing body. While ethnocentrism may come out in a majority of people, this is part of the Gebusi beliefs and customs that set them apart from certain groups and bring individuals together.

These constant reminders of differences as well as stereotyping made it incredibly hard for Gouvrnel, Wei-Lei and all migrants to belong somewhere other than what their physical appearance may indicate. By Gouvrnel recalling this story to the readers it make us think and learn about the impact and implications migrants have to face when coming to Australia and the teasing, bulling and hardships they were forced to face. On multiple occasions she recalls being in tears and asking herself why she “couldn’t move back to Delhi,” difference in physical appearance and were we originate serve as indicatory of difference that can result in very stereotypical grouping, making assumptions purely based on looks as well as exclusion, preventing migrants from feeling as if they belong.

Prompt 2: Some people say that to talk about cultural conflicts creates a different mindset than if

“conflict occurring between individuals or social groups that separated by cultural boundaries can be considered “cross-cultural conflict.” But individuals, even in the same society, are potentially members of many different groups, organized in different ways by different criteria” (Avruvh, 1998, p.6).

By 1940, Roma gypsies were rounded up and made to live in encampments. These in time became fenced in ghettos. From these ghettos, many were transported by train to detention camps to await deportation. They were forced to wear black triangle markings for being asocial or a green triangle for being professional criminals. Besides being treated as in the camps, they were also subjected to multiple medical experiments, including “special experiments that were supposed to prove scientifically that their blood was different from German blood.” Many of the gypsy women were sterilized against their will, which included any female child over the age of twelve. This was done so they would not be able to continue their ancestral line, thought to be impure inferior and worthless. Most Roma gypsies were exterminated in the camps.

This analogy shows that there are problems with the logic the Cultural Differences Argument because it tries to “derive a substantive conclusion” about a topic from the fact that there is a disagreement in belief between two groups (Rachel 19). While the premise involves what people believe, the conclusion is about what is the truth, which means the conclusion does not follow from the premise. A deductive argument is valid if its conclusion follows the premises; therefore, the Cultural Differences Argument is invalid. Furthermore, this analogy works as a criticism of the Cultural Differences Argument because it shows that the disagreement between cultures about a topic does not guarantee that there is no objective truth about such a topic. It might simply be because one party (or both) is

Some Roma hide their ethnic identities because it can be dangerous and bad for their business because of the stereotyping that goes along with being a Roma. Also, depending on the community, they may be threatened, attacked, or discriminated again.

The Romani have been portrayed in a negative manner in a number of films in the 20th century. Most of these films contain a number of stereotypes about about the Roma which fuels discrimination and fear of the Roma people. These stereotypes can be seen in mysticism, music and clothing. They are seen as evil conniving and frightening in films using magic and sorcery to hurt others. Or they are looked at as mysterious and intriguing. Certain films cast the Roma in a certain light, so the films in the early 20th century were much more stereotypical than more recent films. However there are exceptions to this general observation. Films such as Cry of the Werewolf and Thinner are much more stereotypical than Time of the Gypsies and The Crazy Stranger.

The Romani People commonly known as Roma, Gypsies or Travelers account for around 11 million people scattered across Europe today, mostly in the Eastern European states. They have been persecuted and discriminated against due to large cultural differences since their arrival to Europe. The post-1989 transition from communism in Eastern Europe created a huge ethnic underclass of Roma who by many measures such as political, social, and economic, have the lowest status of any ethnic group in Eastern Europe. This has led to large socioeconomic gaps between Roma and non-Roma people. Europe is finally starting to realize what a large problem this gap is causing and certain agencies and governments of states where there is a larger population of Roma have begun to take action to better integrate the Roma people into society. These initiatives are striving to increase employment, education, welfare and other aspects of life for the Roma people and to break the destructive cycle of poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and loss of hope that has set in for many East European Roma.

In contrast to the idea of race, Ethnicity refers to ethnic affiliation, or the “cultural practices and outlooks of a given community of people that set them apart from others” (Giddens, 1997:210). Members of a particular ethnic group see themselves as culturally distinct from other groups of people in a society or culture. There are different characteristics which serve as a way of

The Roma culture, due to their nomadic life is disparaged by Europeans because they are seen as homeless and thieves. As an American-European who has lived in Portugal for 10 years, I have witnessed the hatred towards the Roma culture in person. The Roma culture, otherwise known as gypsies live in small “Casas de Lata” (Tin houses) in encampments next to neighborhoods. Their views and culture are mainly rejected by society in Europe for the fact that lifestyle, language, customs and behaviors are different. As one of the Hungarians stated in the video, fear is present whenever a gypsy is seen in the street. In Portugal, similar situations are presented, where I would be afraid to talk or even look at people from descendent of the Roma culture.

"Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are nuisance at best and often a disaster." - Dr. Geert Hofstede

Gypsies are an ethnic group, scattered throughout Europe and North America, who maintain a nomadic way of life in industrialized societies. They migrated from Northern India in around the 14th century and pride themselves on maintaining all elements of traditional gypsy culture. The most significant differences between my life and that experienced by Gypsy adolescents are evident in their family life, gender roles, educations and traditions.

It’s is through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey.’’