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The Impact of Stereotypes and Discrimination on Roma People
Roma people have faced stereotypes and discrimination for generations, and it still affects their lives today. These negative beliefs are not based on facts, but on fear, ignorance, or hate. They can cause real harm in education, work, and everyday life.
Many Roma children are excluded from education or do not get the support they need in school. Teachers and schools sometimes expect less from them or assume they will fail. When schools do not believe in Roma students, they are less likely to follow up on their needs or offer extra help.
In the workplace, Roma people are often overlooked for jobs or treated unfairly. Employers may believe stereotypes or avoid hiring Roma workers altogether. Even those who get jobs can face unequal treatment or be paid less.
These problems are made worse by how the media portrays Roma people. Often, TV shows, news stories, or films show Roma in a negative or one-sided way. This shapes how the public sees Roma communities and adds to the discrimination they face.
Discrimination is often not reported. Many Roma people do not speak out because they are used to being ignored, or they do not know how to report it. Some fear that nothing will change even if they do. Others may not know their rights, especially if they haven’t been taught in school or by the government.
This ongoing discrimination leads to bigger problems like poverty, social isolation, and a lack of trust in public services. It creates a cycle where Roma people are held back simply because of who they are.
Governments, schools, and society often fail to protect Roma rights. In many cases, authorities ignore the problems or don’t take enough action to fix them. This leaves Roma communities to face racism alone.
Here are some sources that support the information on this page
Education and Discrimination:
Education Inequalities for Gypsies, Roma, and Travellers in England.
Gypsies and Travellers in England: Education, Outcomes, and Policy (May 2024)
Employment and Inequality:
Education and Employment Among Gypsies and Travellers: Insights from England and Wales, 2022.
“Is Britain Fairer?” Roma Spotlight: Findings & Facts (EHRC Factsheet)
Media Stereotypes and Representation:
Challenging Media Bias: A Call for Anti-Racist Coverage of Gypsies and Travellers
Human Rights and Discrimination Reporting:
The term Roma can lead to some confusion, for example Scottish Government almost always refer to Gypsy Roma Travellers as a single community grouping. Community Renewal Rom Romeha focusses its work on migrant families in Scotland who identify as Roma. This community almost all live in permanent housing. Typically these families choose not to use the term Gypsy or Traveller for themselves, but we cannot speak for everyone on their personal preferences. There are other people and communities in Scotland that also identify as Roma, Romani or Romanichal who may or may not choose to use the term Gypsy or Traveller to describe them. There are also some groups that use the term Traveller but not the term Roma. We are conscious that part of our mission is to prevent anti-gypsyism in Scotland and internationally, but we are careful not to speak on behalf of anyone else and their own preferred terminology and identity
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