I’m not orange & don’t have bright, blonde hair so people are stunned I’m a gypsy but there’s 4 things that give me away
A ROMANY gypsy woman has revealed the common stereotypes that people have about her lifestyle and culture.
Aimee claims that people are sometimes shocked when they find out that she’s a gypsy because of her appearance and the fact that she has a job.
In a clip shared to TikTok (@thatgirlfromlancs), she shows off her gold hoop earrings and says: “I’m a gypsy woman in the UK…of course I have creoles that I’ve had since I was literally four.”
She goes onto say that she’s 20-year-old, so it’s little surprise her parents are her neighbours.
Aimee continues: “I’m a gypsy woman in the UK…of course I don’t have a job…jokes, I do! Some of us have jobs.
“And no I’m not married and yes, I’m going out with a gorger boy.”
The gypsy woman then goes on to claim one of the comments she receives from other women in her community because of her appearance.
“Because I’m not orange and I don’t have bright blonde hair and called Bridget-Mae, I get called a country woman by other Gypsy women and by Irish travellers,” she claims.
The post has since gone viral, racking up over 76k views and several comments – with very mixed responses.
“I worked up until I had my children, lots of Gypsy women do. Its good for you to be doing something,” wrote one.
A second asked: “Why insult hair/skin and names though? You are no better than us. I worked till I had my 4 children. I have qualifications.”
In response, Aimee clarified: “I didn’t mean offence. it was in jest because a lot of traveller girls are really rude to me about my appearance as a Romany woman.”
In a second video, Aimee answered a few questions following some of the hate comments she received from social media users online.
First up, she begins by explaining why she talks the way she does and not like a ‘traditional’ gypsy.
“I talk like this because before I was born my family moved around a lot – they were down south, then they came back up north…” she says.
“They all talk a certain way but I don’t because my parents decided they were going to send me to school.
“My dad’s biggest regret is that he can’t read or write properly, and so he has to ask other people – especially for his job because he’s a builder.
“I’ve spent most of her life around settled folk.”
Next, she explains why her parents thought it was so important that she get a job.
“When it came to me leaving school, my parents thought it was really important that not only do learn the virtues and value of a gypsy woman in terms of cleaning and making a home for a child and my husband, but they also thought it was important that I have autonomy over the things I want to do in my life,” she says.
“Having a job teaches you responsibilities that other things don’t.
“So I have a job that I’m really proud of and I work within a community that’s really accepting and really diverse – and I’m not he only Romany gypsy who works in this industry.”
Aimee then went on to address another comment she received from a social media user who wrote: “Your granddad moved on a haven site and now you think you’re a gypsy.”
She clarifies: “I live on a piece of land that my granddad bought before I was born and it’s only got trailers and caravans and chalets on it.
“It’s just me and my family on it – the rest of my family live a bit further North than us.
“They all act, look, speak like what you would expect a traditional gypsy to act, speak and look like – and I don’t obviously, because I’ve lived a different life with them and have hung out with country folk more.”