Isn't calling someone a Gypsy racist?
2007-02-08 08:27:24 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Gypsy is a generally derogatory term, however, it is up to the individual to decide for him or herself if it is offensive.
It really depends upon how it is used. For example: "Rikkar, Gypsies are pretty cool!" versus "Rikkar, you are a dirty, theiving Gypsy!"
I, personally, prefer being called Rromani or Rroma but I am not going to get bent over being called Gypsy unless some slur is applied along with it.
There are many ethnicities under the umbrella term "Gypsy", including Rromani. Rromani are the largest ethnicity under that umbrella term.
There is another problem... there are roving bands of hooligans, mostly Gadje (non-Gypsy), who call themselves "gypsies" and perpetrationg "gypsy crime". This is making our reputation even worse. There is an effort to only use the word Gypsy with the capital "G" when referring to ourselves (better to say Rromani)... never the lower case.
Race? We are not labelled a race but, if the taxonomists wanted to get down to making more official races, we would qualifty. What makes a Rromani is genetics, not culture.
I shall say that again:
What makes a Rromani, or any other ethnic Gypsy, is GENETICS not CULTURE. I live in a house, not in a caravan. That does not change my genetics. I could declare myself culturally Japanese, for example, and I am STILL Rromani.
2007-02-08 10:15:36 · answer #1 · answered by j 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They actually prefer to be called Roma rather than Gypsy. The Romani people. BTW, they all don't steal. That is a stereotype of them. So if you want to show respect to them then don't call them Gypsies.
2007-02-08 16:44:14 · answer #2 · answered by Ayesha 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. My piano teacher told me she was a gypsy and it didn't seem to have a completely positive or negative connotation.
2007-02-08 20:28:05 · answer #3 · answered by ihateidiots 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why? Gypsys are people who steal and kill. If you told that it would have been racist, but you just said Gypsy. Is it racist for me to call my swedish friend swedish? Idiot!
2007-02-08 16:32:12 · answer #4 · answered by Lena F 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I don't know. I call myself a gypsy sometimes. It's apart of my Email adress.
2007-02-08 16:43:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I dont think so a because they arent a race like Africans or Caucasians, and b thats what they call themselves.
2007-02-08 16:30:40 · answer #6 · answered by YouCannotKnowUnlessUAsk 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No, thats a culture.
2007-02-08 17:26:44 · answer #7 · answered by Diamond in the Rough 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well it depends, If they are doing it to belittle then yes.
2007-02-08 16:31:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋