Don’t use the word ‘Gypsy.’
Hello, roleplayers of the Maximoff twins old and new. It’s wonderful to see more of you around! Since AOU came out, people have become newly enthralled in the twins and roleplaying as them, which is a wonderful thing. They are lovely people, worthy of exploration, but it has brought up a point that needs to be made clear. Unfortunately, I’ve noted at least four blogs using the word gypsy in various ways. From blog titles, urls, to in roleplays, often tossing it around as though it was just a term or a nickname, and I feel the need to make the background of the word clear – an explain why you should not, under any circumstances, use that word.
First off, gypsy is an ethnic slur.
I know, you probably didn’t expect that. Channels like TLC use it in the TV show titles, movie titles, and even the otherwise near flawless queen Gaga uses it as a song title. Unfortunately, gypsy has roots that are steeped only in racism, primarily from the UK and other European countries. They use this term to refer to the Roma people, those of Romani descent who even now are still pushed out of countries, denied basic social rights and services, and considered second class. Gypsy paints the imagery in the minds of those who know it’s real definition of crime ridden, homeless, culture-less thieves who are worth nothing and deserve just as much.
Unfortunately, the word itself has been romanticized by western culture who aren’t aware of it’s severity. Romani people choose to live apart sometimes, and some choose to attempt to integrate themselves into culture. That many still live separate is not a sign of truth in the meaning behind the slur, but a fact of long standing distrust because of the centuries of bigotry that was used against them, the attack and targeting of Hitler’s regime, and the fact that most people will have no idea that the Roma people were targeted with similar severity as the Jewish. There is as much distrust, bigotry, and hate between the Roma people and the European countries as there is between America and those of African descent, though you may not have realized it.
To put it simply, using gypsy is like using ANY OTHER racial slur, and should be just as negative in our eyes. While I encourage the continued roleplaying of your new muses, please stop using a word steeped in hate. gypsy, gyppo, gippo, gypo, gyppie, gyppy, gipp, they are not cute or marks of culture, they are marks of racism and bigotry.
Thank you, and happy roleplaying.
