Artifacts:
Youtube video: Season preview for the show "Gypsy Sisters"
http://youtu.be/b01CytRrWEQ
Screenshots from the TV show "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding"
A "typical" gypsy woman-the caption on this initial photo said "never trust a gypsy"
A screenshot from the show "Gypsy Sisters"
A tweet from a fashion store called "Gypsy Warrior". The Bag shows Tarot card and palm readings.
The single story about this group is that they are non-stationary and dishonest women that like to fight, and dabble in things that are almost withcraft like. With the over-the-top wedding dresses shown on TV, clothing they wear (I wonder if the producers have them wear more to perpetuated this stereotype), and way they are portrayed in all forms of media, it is no wonder that most of us only see one story of their lives. It almost seems as though there is a consistent effort to get this story out in the different shows, and different pictures of them I was able to find. If you watch the video, you will hear crude language, see fighting, revealing and over-the-top dress. The clothing style "gypsy" is almost always confined to a certain look. That is, in essence the definition of "one story"-thinking that a certain group should look a certain way.
The single story is extremely limiting in the fact that anyone who runs into someone who is gypsy will think they are just like the girls and guys on the TV shows. In particular, I am sure everyone who runs into someone who is gypsy would say- "oh my gosh, is your wedding going to be so crazy like the ones on TV?" If the stereotypes and story of these women is perpetuated it could be crippling on them as a group now, and in the future. They could begin to isolate themselves further, and they may in the end fulfill this "story", just because it is what others expect, which could be damaging for themselves, but also for our society, which is so great because it is one in which all people can be in a culture, but represent their own at the same time.
These artifacts show the stereotype and one story placed upon gypsy women living in America. If this story continues to be told, and retold, this group could continually placed in that box. One of the artifacts above says "Never trust a gypsy". That is a horrible story to have about this group of people. Hopefully, despite all of the stereotyping, we as a society can being to see all of the true and real stories about them.
I must admit that I have watched the TV show, and definitely created a single story for gypsy girls. Thanks for opening my eyes to how detrimental this can be to the society if we place this label on them!
ReplyDeleteGypsy girls are judged for how the media portrays them because lots of people don't even think they are real! So it is sad to see how they are judged and perceived.
ReplyDeleteThis was really interesting! I think the problem is Gypsy women are not very common so are only resources to how they live are the media which clearly are very inaccurate.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of sad, but the media feeds off of a single story because viewers find it interesting. In this case, it developed a bad label for gypsies when you are only getting one portion of the big picture. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHmm, interesting. I had never heard of gypsies in America, the only reference point I had was the little I'd heard of gypsies in Europe. It's not a subgroup you hear a lot of, unless it's broadcast on television like that. So yeah, that has the power to create a lasting impression on a lot of people who don't know otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Madeline. My perception of Gypsy women comes straight from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Disney. I guess the only way to avoid these kind of snap judgments and stereotypes is to actually get to know them (shocker!). I'll keep my eyes (and mind) open.
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