American Gypsy Subculture

Gypsy stereotyping

Culture is the language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and material objects that are passed from one generation to the next (Henslin 2012:36). Cultures vary widely from country to country and even from one state to another. But what happens when different classes have their own culture within a country's culture? This constitutes a subculture. Subcultures have beliefs and practices that differ from those within their country of residency. A subculture tends to have strict guidelines that separate its way of life from the way of life of others. Many people are familiar with the subculture of places like Chinatown or Koreatown, and maybe they even know about the Amish subculture, but as many people are familiar with the Gypsy culture.

The television My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding is a hit show on the network TLC. This show gives insight to the unfamiliar subculture of American Gypsies. This subculture breaks many common norms of American culture. There is a general tendency to apply a negative stigma to this subculture because their behaviors deviate from the norms of America. When most people think of a "gypsy" they picture someone like Esmeralda off of The Hunchback of Notre Dame-- large-hoop earrings, flowing skirts, bracelets, theft, and fortune telling. Sorry to disappoint you, but this is not what the American Gypsy culture is.

The American Gypsy lifestyle varies from American culture. American Gypsies are also commonly referred to as Travellers. The Traveller lifestyle is one that not many Americans can easily relate to; there are many negative opinions on this lifestyle. Gypsy families tend to be large but are very well close knit. Gypsy children get married young. A teen girl will start to look for a proper suitor when she is around 14 or 15 years old. Since Gypsy families are large, their celebrations are extravagant events. Their parties often turn into large events that have over a 100 guests. There are dresses, food, music, and lots of extended family. The attire for these celebrations is spectacular. The woman of honor at the party will appear in a large, highly detailed, expensive dress. Though Gypsy girls have strict upbringings where they are forced to stay virgins until they are married, the way they dress does not reflect this. Their normal dress is negatively viewed by American culture. It is also very uncommon for a Traveller to marry someone that is not also a Traveller. Most of the stigma regarding the Gypsy culture stems from the young marriage ages and the huge, festive celebrations.

For a brief look into the American Gypsy culture, watch this short clip from TLC's hit show My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.

What do you think? Should Americans be more understanding of the Gypsy subculture? Is the American Gypsy culture deserving of its stigma or is simply misunderstood? Are there other subcultures in America that aren't well-known?

References:
Henslin, James M. 2012. Sociology A Down-to-Earth Approach. , Pearson Inc..


2011. "Big Fat Gypsy Weddings: ten facts about Gypsies and Travellers." The Telegraph. Retrieved April 21, 2013 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8325797/Big-Fat-Gypsy-Weddings-ten-facts-about-Gypsies-and-Travellers.html).