# Gypsy / Romani discussion (spun off from GQ thread)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gypsy-romani-discussion-spun-off-from-gq-thread/945074>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 26, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gypsy-romani-discussion-spun-off-from-gq-thread/945074 "2021-06-26T16:34:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 120

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**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gypsy-romani-discussion-spun-off-from-gq-thread/945074/120 "2021-06-30T15:45:02Z")

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> [@Kent\_Clark](#):
>
> Let’s not overlook this. Discrimination against the Roma is not some long-ago thing, it’s still going on. The term “gypsy” isn’t used for some mythical group like leprechauns, it’s an ethnic slur in many parts of the world, and needs to be recognized as such.

As I just [argued in another thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandeis-university-considers-picnic-to-be-oppressive-language/945016/388), the term ‘gypsy’ is the word that another ethnic group in Britain uses to describe themselves. It’s not a slur to them.

The Roma object to being called gypsies because they are not gypsies. But the gypsies are.

> We asked many members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities how they preferred to describe themselves. While some find the term “Gypsy” to be offensive, many stakeholders and witnesses were proud to associate themselves with this term and so we have decided that it is right and proper to use it, where appropriate, throughout the report.

[Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities - a House of Commons Committee report with recommendations to the Government](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmwomeq/360/full-report.html#content)

Also,

> In continental Europe, however, all groups with nomadic histories are categorised as “Roma”, a much broader term that, while it includes Gypsies and Irish Travellers, is not the way in which most British communities would identify themselves.

Of course, both groups have faced (and still face) terrible discrimination but it’s not because of the word ‘gypsy’.

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