Tag Archives: Stereotypes

Ungarn News Osteuropa

Discrimination in Hungary

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An article about Roma in Hungary and the discrimination they suffer in their lives. Good facts and description of the issues, were it not for the statement that the Hungarian Roma were made sedentary centuries ago… They never travelled except for going there.

This is typical of the French view of Roma: They are Travellers and it is a way of life…

Italien News Westeuropa

Italy: What ????

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An article in the Italian press. It starts well, with the fact that Roma came to Italy as early as 1422, if not even earlier. But then it dives into the worst stereotypes: Machismo among men, girls being controlled by their brothers and fathers, little education, etc.

Once again, good intentions, little knowledge and understanding, and perpetuation of stereotypes.

News Osteuropa Serbien

Ljiljjana Petrović Butler

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The story of a Serbian Romani singer, Ljiljjana Petrović Butler, born in 2944 in Belgrade, who died in 2010 in the Netherlands, having fled the wars in Yugoslavia.

Unfortunately, this story also reinforces many stereotypes: early marriage and children, no education, dirty, and so on. Sad, as it could have been told differently.

Deutschland News Westeuropa

Germany: Clichés

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Who are the Roma? Well, definitively not what this newspaper writes. This is a concentrated collection of stereotypes that do not apply to the overwhelming majority of Roma.

They say: Many travel, formerly in carriages, now in cars and caravans, in search of work. They live and dress traditionally, the women for example in colourful, long skirts.

News Osteuropa Ukraine

Ukraine and Roma in the War

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Another article on Uzhhorod, in Transcarpathian Ukraine, showing how the war is influencing the attitudes towards Roma in the country.

Frankreich

French Chronicle …

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Truly nothing in the news in France this week. A “Reportage” on the wedings of the various “Gitans” communities on the main French TV – TF1. It caters to all stereotypes, and frankly, amalgamates everything, contributing to the non-understanding of Roma in general in France.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czech Teachers and Diversity

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At the end of a five day visit to the Czech Republic, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic did not mince her words and stated that the country needed to do more to stop discrimination against Roma. She also added that schooling is all too often still segregated and that the prejudices of the teachers and staff against Roma need to be addressed.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Roma in the Czech Republic

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An article about Roma in the Czech Republic. It states that the most numerous Roma in the Czech Republic are Slovak Roma, who make up about 75 to 80% of the total number of Roma in the country. In addition, the original Czech Roma live in the Czech Republic, as well as German Sinti and Olaš Roma. All this according to Markéta Hajská from the Department of Central European Studies.

Well, less than 60 families of Czech Roma survived the war. This is the reason why after World War Two, the Communist regime resettled Roma to the Czech part of the country. The Olaš – these are Vlach Roma, have been there since the beginning oof the 20th century. Should be enough to make then Czech.

In brief, the usual for that country. Unfortunately.

Frankreich News Westeuropa

“Gypsy Civilisation”

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A normally quite good radio station organised a discussion on the “Civilisation Tsigane”. It would have been good if they had checked their facts. France still seems totally confused between “Gens du Voyage”, Tsiganes, Roma, etc.

Griechenland News Westeuropa

Greece: Series and Stereotypes

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At the beginning of the 20th century, in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, more than a third of the population was Jewish. The series Le Bracelet of Fire, directed by Giorgos Gikapeppas, has been released on February 4 on the public television channel ERT and from January 25 on the Ertflix group platform and retraces for the first time the history of a family of Thessaloniki through the darkest events of the 20th century.

However … The first episode, at the 37th minute and 45th second has a “Gypsy”, called Angelis is saying:

I stole, I stole (past continuous)

But it is allowed for the Gypsies to steal.

God gave us this right.

And he “explains” that the Romans gave an order to a Gypsy to forge the 4 nails to crucify Jesus. But when the Gypsy found out it was to crucify Christ he swallowed one. From then onwards God gave the Gypsies the right to steal.

This later tale is one that Roma told in Western Europe (but not in Greece) as the reason for their continuous travels (and originally as to why they claimed to be pilgrims).

In any case, that is a bunch of stereotypes…

Bulgarien News Osteuropa

Bulgarian Wedding

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A Roma wedding in the town of Smolyan in Southern Bulgaria, close to the Greek border. The bad thing is, the paper mentions the bride’s age: 14, and the fact that she was sold for BGN 5’000 (roughly EUR 2’500). This is not good as it perpetuates this stereotype. Brides are generally not sold, but among many Vlach groups, the groom’s family has to pay for the bride, a tradition most probably associated with the slavery in that region.

Griechenland News Westeuropa

Greece and Roma

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A long article about the shooting of a young Rom in Thessaloniki last week, and about the recurring police violence and racism against Roma and generally minorities in Greece, this with almost impunity.

It also highlights that the Roma are there since the Byzantine Empire (true, but most of the original Greek Roma are now in Turkey due to the population exchange in the 1920, and the current Roma are mostly Vach Roma who escaped the slavery), and it highlights the dire situation in which they are.

They are badly regarded in Greece and considered by many to be criminals.

This is bad.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Stereotypes

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An article about a Roma wedding in the Czech town of Jirkov highlights the views of the majority on Roma and some of the stereotype: “A wedding that you don’t usually see. Romani brides and grooms Patrícia and Radek from the Czech town of Jirkov in the Chomutov district did not leave the preparation for the most beautiful day of their lives to chance and pulled out all the stops. Their wedding was exactly as it should be for Roma – luxurious and quite noisy!”

No comments.

Montenegro News Osteuropa

Montenegro and Roma

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Aleksandar Damjanovic, chairman of NGO Montenegrin Cultural Network, CKM, founded in 2009 to spread loyalty and respect for the country’s state symbols made a blunder: He wanted to include the Roma community in his “Montenegro without division” campaign, but he did not find an adequate costume. Yes really.
Roma responded saying if the smallest problem faced by Roma was traditional costumes, they’d be really happy there. In any case, the Council of Montenegro’s Roma signed a joint Memorandum on cooperation, as announced the president of the Roma Council, Mensur Šalaj.

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