The Gypsy Debate by Joanna Richardson

Author:Joanna Richardson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gypsy, travellers, minority, housing policy, gypsies, scoiety, moral panic, legislation, romany
ISBN: 9781845404833
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2017
Published: 2017-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

Figure 7: Public Objections

This list of objections from the public is comparable to the discourse of Czech television debates, outlined by Leudar and Nekvapil (2000). Although the comments from the local authority debate are linked more heavily to cost, the extreme undertone to the discourse is similar.

National newspaper stories did not seem to have a significant, overt, impact on the Gypsies and Travellers in the focus groups. It appeared to be that the local newspaper stories had more resonance, partly because of the immediacy of the effect of the report on their settled neighbours. One particular local article, which had angered the Travellers, was about a funeral of a popular young Traveller man. Instead of some discussion of the qualities of the deceased, as is often the format of a local newspaper article covering a death; the article instead focused on cars outside the church. The main theme was the disruption that had been caused by many cars being parked outside of the church, and it referred to a mess being left behind. The Travellers were furious about this article; they asked what possible mess could be left behind from them parking outside a church for a funeral? There were a lot of cars, but then there can be the same if it were for a young member of the settled community. They felt that mess was associated with Gypsies and Travellers even when most Travellers were clean and tidy. They were aware that articles in the local newspapers, and speeches by local politicians, referred to sites being a mess. However, it was felt that the behaviour of a small minority was used as an excuse to misrepresent all Gypsies and Travellers.

Cost is the most important theme to come out of this research, it links with findings from other empirical research (Morris and Clements 2002) and it is also explained by two of the stages in the theoretical framework outlined in chapter three. ‘Cost’ is both a theme of discourse that is used as a tool of control; and it is a motive for exercising control. In this regard, it is unique amongst the discursive themes in my research. The other themes tend to be discursive trends that can be linked to the motive to ‘other’, perhaps in order to save costs. Cost is the only theme that is discursive tool and motive to control, (a ‘how’ and a ‘why’ theme) according to the framework.

Labelling - Gypsies or Travellers?

Two newspaper articles, in the media analysis, focused on the distinction between Gypsies and Travellers. Both of these were in fact letters from local people in the settled community and they were negative in their portrayal. In both cases it is not a journalistic article which was analysed, but instead letters printed in local newspapers. The first letter said:

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