Culturally Sensitive Vocabulary and
Gypsy Culture: Guidance for School Staff
September 2015
Gypsy children are party to most discussions and events that affect their family life, with the
exception of one area: sex.
Desirable traits for Gypsy children to display include independence, industriousness,
strength, common sense and innocence.
Particularly for Gypsy girls it is essential that they are seen to be naïve and innocent of
information relating to sex until they officially become an adult when they marry. To this end,
Gypsy children are not knowingly exposed to information about sex or sexual development
and it is especially frowned upon for Gypsy girls to be learning about male sexual anatomy,
the mechanics of sexual intercourse and any relationship advice that does not promote
sexual abstinence before marriage and the belief that marriage is for life.
Of course young Gypsy children do learn about such matters from television and other
media but it is not referred to or discussed in the family other than privately with a family
member of the same gender; boys with their fathers, older brothers or uncles and girls with
their mothers, older sisters or aunts.
PSHE and SRE can therefore cause some problems for Gypsy children in schools and more
traditional Gypsy families will often remove their children from mainstream education to
home educate them at the end of Year 6 so that they do not receive any teaching contrary to
their cultural beliefs and to stop their children mixing with non-Gypsy children who may
discuss these taboo subjects with them and may influence them into engaging in sexual
practices before marriage.
Language is powerful and Gypsy families consider words about sex to be dirty and polluting.
The Romany language has its own words which, although less offensive, are still used with
discretion and usually in hushed tones from the corner of the mouth. Some of the words
listed below in bold type are not used and if a Gypsy man or woman were to be heard using
them publicly they would risk being permanently ostracised from the community with a
reputation of being dirty or perverted. The same risk is faced by Gypsy children and so
parents go to great lengths to protect them.
Polluting Words

Menstruation: “Women’s problems”, as this is often referred to, is strictly taboo.
Television commercials for sanitary products are switched off, or if that can’t be done
men will leave the room and the children’s attention diverted. Gypsy girls are
prepared for puberty by their mother or other female family member but is expected
to never talk about the topic with anyone else. Words to avoid include: Period,
Menstruation, Ovulation, public reference to Sanitary Towels or Sanitary
Products (the brand Tampax especially).
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
Sex: There are many words which are best avoided and the list can never be
exhaustive. If one can retain the idea that ANY sexual reference is taboo it will be
easier to ensure that no offence is caused. Words to avoid include: Penis, Vagina,
Testicles, Breasts, Sex or Sexual Intercourse, Penetration, Ejaculation,
Homosexual. Anatomical terms and references are best avoided, such as Womb,
Sperm, Semen, Cervix. Nudity is forbidden in Gypsy culture and Gypsy girls are not
expected to have actually seen a naked adult male before they are married.

Pregnancy: Gypsy children are told that babies are bought in the hospital and if the
child questions about their mother’s bump they are told that mummy is just getting
fatter. Often staff at school will share news of their pregnancy with their class and
their progress as the baby develops before they take maternity leave. In instances
like this it is usually advisable to refrain if there are Gypsy children in the class or to
share discretely with the class when Gypsy students are absent or otherwise
occupied elsewhere. Discussion about how happy or healthy a pregnant woman
looks or feels is never referenced in Gypsy culture. As with the topic of sex, any
words about pregnancy are polluting and taboo. Words to avoid include Pregnant,
discussion about Gestation and Foetal Development, Foetus, Womb,
Contractions.
These lists of words to avoid are not exhaustive and the best option is to avoid any mention
of or reference to the subjects of sex, sexual anatomy and pregnancy.
Gypsy children are prepared for adult and sexual relationships within the family and Gypsy
boys and girls are supported by their families through puberty and the accompanying
changes in their bodies. In secondary school settings most Gypsy children will know and will
have talked about sex and relationships with some of their peers and although they may not
be as innocent of the subject matter as it seems, discussion of these topics in class, publicly
or with strangers or members of the opposite gender are still strictly forbidden and Gypsy
children will often face chastisement from their parents if they are known to be breaking
these cultural norms.
Work in School
Schools can still deliver a thorough and effective curriculum whilst remaining sensitive to
Gypsy culture. When your school takes new Gypsy children on roll, either at Y7 transition or
at any other point in the school year, it is worth speaking to parents about your PSHE and
SRE programme. Make sure parents know exactly what topics are covered and at what time
during the school year. Explain that if parents choose to withdraw their children, they do not
have to attend lessons that deal with Sex and Relationships Education and they will be
found an alternative activity for that lesson: there is no need to keep a child at home for the
whole day. It is also worth explaining that pupils from other cultures and faiths also will not
let their children attend SRE so the Gypsy children will not stand out or be made to feel
different.
Some schools will hold a mock SRE or PSHE lesson for Gypsy parents to attend where they
will see first hand what their children will be taught. This can reassure parents that their
fears about PSHE and SRE are unfounded.
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EMTAS has produced a leaflet for use in schools with Traveller parents that covers the
topics of PSHE and SRE. This leaflet can be useful in initiating discussion and informing
parents.
There are many ways of tackling the issues mentioned here and if you would like support for
your school in managing culturally sensitive situations and culturally sensitive vocabulary
with Gypsies or other groups please contact EMTAS.
For further information, please contact:
Sam Wilson
Traveller Education Adviser
sam.wilson@hants.gov.uk
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