Abstract

ABSTRACT This historiographical article aims to do three things. First, to construct a working overview of historical and aligned scholarship focussed on the history of Britain’s Gypsy and Traveller populations, to give non-specialists an understanding of the key pieces of scholarship and debates within the field. Second, to argue that it is not sufficient for these histories to remain only a concern of ‘Romani’ scholars, and so exist largely separate from both mainstream histories and histories of Britain’s other minority populations. And third, to offer some thoughts on possible avenues for future research and the potential for more joined-up scholarship.

Highlights

  • This historiographical article aims to do three things

  • The demonisation of a particular section of British society has often been justified via references to Gypsies’ and Travellers’ failure to conform to particular, often highly romanticised, stereotypes centring on a narrow range of ethnic and cultural markers, with anti-Gypsy or Traveller comments commonly prefaced by statements ‘I don’t mind the real Gypsies, it’s the [pejorative anti-Gypsy slur] I don’t like’: When I was growing up, we used to have what they called a horse fair in the village

  • Her work has insisted that histories of Gypsies and Travellers, and of European Roma, must be understood as being intrinsi­ cally embedded in wider national histories, always being refracted through their particular experiences.[24]

Read more

Summary

Introduction

This historiographical article aims to do three things. First, to con­ struct a working overview of historical and aligned scholarship focussed on the history of Britain’s Gypsy and Traveller populations, to give non-specialists an understanding of the key pieces of scho­ larship and debates within the field.

Objectives
Results
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.