'Why I hesitate to tell people I'm a Gypsy'

Chantelle, a 23-year-old woman from Bedfordshire, is featured in a new documentary called 'Growing Up Gypsy' by Stacey Dooley. The documentary follows three Romany women as they navigate their everyday lives while dealing with the challenges that come from being part of the Gypsy community. Chantelle is proud of her Romany heritage, but she often feels nervous about sharing it with others. She recalls a moment when she started a new job and wondered if her colleagues would judge her based on her background. 'Are they going to think I’m going to steal stuff from here? ' she remembers asking herself. This fear stems from the negative portrayals of Gypsies in movies and television shows, where they are often depicted as the villains. Chantelle hopes that by sharing her story, people will gain a better understanding of her community and see that they are not the bad people they are often made out to be. The charity Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) works to combat discrimination against the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) community. They frequently hear from Romany women who feel pressured to hide their identity in professional or public settings to avoid discrimination and hate. Ebony, another young woman featured in the documentary, works as a beautician. She recalls a time when a client, unaware of her Romany heritage, expressed her discomfort about parking in a certain area because there were Gypsies living nearby. 'And I was sat there, painting her nails, like: 'Little do you know',' Ebony thought to herself. She wants people to understand that Gypsies are kind and friendly individuals, and she hopes that by sharing her experiences, others will learn to see them in a more positive light. Romany Gypsies are one of the three ethnic groups within the GRT community. Some individuals prefer to identify as travellers, while others choose to use the term Gypsy. Stacey Dooley, the presenter of the documentary, felt honored to be welcomed into the community. However, she also learned that the women and their families often feel unwelcome in many places. This is something that resonates with Chantelle, who, despite being proud of her heritage, has had conflicting feelings about it. At 26, she is now more confident in sharing her identity, but she remembers a time when she was hesitant to tell others about her background for fear of being called derogatory names. When applying for university, her parents advised her not to tick the GRT ethnicity box on the application form, fearing it might hurt her chances of acceptance. Despite their concerns, Chantelle filled it in anyway and has grown more confident in discussing her heritage, although the hesitation still lingers. Ebony explains that there is a significant amount of hate and discrimination against travellers, which has led her to hide her heritage in the past. A spokesperson for the FFT states that prejudice against the GRT community remains widespread and often goes unchallenged. A survey conducted by the FFT in 2021 revealed that 22% of respondents would feel uncomfortable hiring a Gypsy or traveller. However, Ebony has also had positive experiences with her employers when she chose to share her background, and she loves her current job. Chantelle has found success as a content creator on TikTok, where she has over 400,000 followers. She enjoys making videos about her culture and answering questions from her audience. Her content includes traditional recipes, such as bacon pudding, which she learned from her grandmother. Despite facing negative comments online, Chantelle continues to create videos and expresses pride in her heritage. She believes that being a Gypsy is not just about living in a house; it is a part of her identity that goes back generations. Both Chantelle and Ebony hope that by sharing their stories, people will learn more about the GRT community and become less prejudiced. Ebony states, 'I don’t look at every non-traveller like you’re a bad person,' and she wishes that others would open their eyes to the truth about Gypsies. The documentary 'Growing Up Gypsy' aims to shed light on the real lives of Romany Gypsy women and help change the way society perceives them.