Ugrás a fő tartalomra

I am too young to be ‘your Gypsy’







Everyone has an important role in modern day societies to challenge the stereotypes of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, regardless of nationality, we all have a collective responsibility. Furthermore, it is the duty of Romani people to preserve their identities and I acknowledge that it means something different to every single one of us, as we are Europe’s biggest and most diverse minority group!



I was brought up with my mother and my siblings in a small village called Simonfa in South of Hungary. Before starting primary school, my mother told me that I had to study twice as hard than any other child in the classroom. Her advice has stuck with me since. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to become a lawyer, because I wanted to help vulnerable people to provide a platform for their their voices to be heard, to deliver justice to them.

At the age of 14, I moved to Budapest to start my secondary education in a Christian high school. Shortly after my final exams, I moved to the Netherlands, where I spent a year volunteering in the Hague, working with disadvantaged children living under poor socio-economic conditions. After finishing my undergraduate degree in Wales, I moved to Denmark to start my Masters degree also in law. I currently reside in London and I am studying to become a barrister in England and Wales. 

While living in Hungary, people often told me that I was not like other Gypsy people. What they meant by it is that I did not embody their stereotypes about Gypsy people, therefore instead of changing their views, they isolated me in their heads. Therefore, I decided that just because I am not the Gypsy fulfilling the stereotypes in their heads, it does not actually mean that I am less of a Gypsy.

I planned to pursue a career abroad to avoid my professional achievements to be undermined by my ethic minority background. However, soon I had to realise that there is no degree that I can use as a shield to protect me against stereotypes, generalisation or even discrimination. 

Moving abroad helped me to understand that I am the sole person who can determine my identity and what it means for me to be a Gypsy. I believe that being a Roma has enormous value – just like any other nationality or minority- and this is the narrative we need to strengthen. 

Right now, while studying, I actively speak about the Gypsy Roma and Traveller situation in the United Kingdom. By way of example, I write blogs at Travellers’ Time regularly alongside Professor Colin Clark. I am also currently co-authoring an academic journal article titled ‘Hidden communities: Justifying the inclusion of Roma as an ethnic identity in Census 2021’ with Nicola Hay from the University of West of Scotland.  In addition, 2018 saw the publication of my open letter to Lord Bourne requesting law reform. Furthermore, I often participate in panel discussions and conferences and recently delivered my first legal talk. My long-term ambition is to be able to influence laws ands policies with my work as a legal professional that will better serve the communities. I also wish to advocate accessibility to justice and consider the effects of socio-economic disadvantage.


This post was written by Vivien Balogh, based on a conversation with Brigitta Balogh.
Címkék:

Megjegyzések

Megjegyzés küldése

Népszerű bejegyzések ezen a blogon

We Are Unstoppable

What does family, parents and siblings mean to us? What do we do for our family members and what does the family do for us? How can we help each other in life? My story is about my younger brother, I consider him a hero in my life. Gábor is a simple man with a huge heart who is very honest and enduring. His endurance in work makes him a real hero. He works 16 hours five days a week as a cook; he gets up every morning and goes to work because that’s his job. He was 18 when he got a great opportunity to work abroad as a chef, naturally making much more money than here, at home. Had he accepted it, his life would have changed radically, but he didn’t want to leave me and our mom alone. It is just the three of us and we would never leave each other. He has superhuman strength. He moved in with Mom who had to be cared for because of her health, but we never felt that is a burden; we are one and everyone does their bit without complaint – Gábor works, Mom takes care of the household, I s
Megjegyzés küldése
További információk

Letter to my 14 years old self

If you had the opportunity to talk to your 15-year-old self, what would you say? What would you say thank you for? What would you warn her about? What qualities would you be proud of? What advice would you give to your younger self? Dear Kinga! I’m writing you this letter because today afternoon we have talked about heroes. I was asked who I consider to be a hero in my life and why. Immediately I wondered if I can be my own hero – why not? This letter is to my 15-year-old self, with lots of love. There are a few things that you don’t know yet (you are good at writing poetry, rollerblading is not for you, it was a great decision to dye your hair) but I do already. And to this very day there are a few things that I learn from you. I know that you like to be comfortable, too, there is something very warm and reassuring in being safe. But this is not enough for you, you leave your comfort zone again and again. You stand up for yourself, for other people, for your principles and truth, for
1 megjegyzés
További információk

If you can’t find a book, write it yourself! – Richard R. O’Neill in conversation

The Hungarian premier of the play ‘ The Hardest Word’ by the British writer and storyteller took place at Roma Heroes Festival. The story is about a Scottish woman who gets it into her head to force the first minister to apologise for the centuries-long discrimination of Scottish travellers. His other play, ‘ The Management Reserves the Right’ focuses on the everyday practice of Scottish barmen not letting Traveller guests enter the pub. The heroes of his plays, just as Richard himself, turn to other people as equal partners with smiling firmness – no matter whether the other is the first minister or the barman. Richard believes that  –  even in hard times  –  it is indispensable to keep our sense of humour and respect each other: that is how we can get on. Books and writing have outstanding importance in Roma and Gypsy communities: the world will get to know our point of view, our children will find plays or even tales portraying their own culture only if we start writing our s
Megjegyzés küldése
További információk