The problem with ignorance is that one does not know something, leading them to be ignorant, but ignorance can be resolved through the acquisition of new knowledge. The purpose of this blog post is to provide you, the reader, with information to help you resolve some of your ignorance, specifically when it comes to the common names used for minority ethnic groups. These names may seem benign and non-harmful, but the reality is that they are steeped in racist origins and have been continually requested to be discontinued in our everyday language. This post will discuss the terms, “Gypsy”, “Eskimo”, and “Berdache”, addressing the origins, meanings, and reasons why these terms should no longer be used.
Gypsy
The term gypsy has grown in meaning in recent years, particularly in American, Canadian, and Western cultures. It is commonly used to represent someone with a carefree spirit, a love for travel, an affinity toward nature and the arts, and more, but the reality is that this term also conjures up very negative ideas and stereotypes, including individuals who are thieves, mystics, seducers, and liars. This term is also commonly used to refer to the ethnic minority group known as the Roma or Romani. This ethnic group has faced centuries of persecution, enslavement, forced assimilation, and genocide, and unfortunately, their troubles persist as they continued to be discriminated against in health care, housing, employment, education, and more.
A large part of the reason why their troubles because the idea of being a “gypsy” suggests there is a personal choice in these behaviors: people choose to be thieves, sexual deviants, to lie, practice magic, etc. The reality is that the Roma and their culture are anything but these ideas. Yes, there are a few individuals who opt to participate in these activities (as they exist in any group), but the Roma culture is not one characterized on these deviant acts. The association with the term “gypsy” and these acts, however, are not easily divorced, and whenever someone is identified as being Roma or Romani and in essence a “gypsy” they are treated negatively and unfairly.
The more recent rebranding of the term “gypsy” to one of carefree individuals into the arts, nature, music, etc. is equally problematic. This rebranding actually negates and erases the long history of persecution and genocides execute against the Roma or Romani over the centuries. It also serves as a way of ignoring the current abuses against them that continue throughout the world. These are several of the reasons why the Roma or Romani request that the term “gypsy” no longer be used and it be as taboo as other ethnic and racial slurs, instead of normalized and adopted as another appropriate word.
Eskimo
The term “Eskimo” has recently drawn attention as various products no longer use this term. Pies, mascots, and even gestures have been criticized for the use of this offensive term, which is an ethnic slur against Indigenous populations of Alaska and the Canadian, Siberian, and Greenland Arctic. The specific origin of the term “Eskimo” is imprecisely known, although it is clear that it is not a term derived from the native languages of these indigenous populations. Some linguists believe the term came from Ojibwa, an indigenous language spoken by groups along the Canadian-US border. Other linguists cite a French origin, claiming the term refers to “snow shoe netter” based on the shoes worn by these groups. Other linguists cite the word means “Ex-Communicated” and was meant to point out the non-Christian identity of the Indigenous people. Still others claim that the term refers to cannibals. Regardless of the origins and original meanings of the term Indigenous populations of Alaska and the Canadian, Siberian, and Greenland Arctic identify the term as being a colonial name and prefer to be called “Inuit” or “Yupik”, based on their respective tribal names that come from their own indigenous languages.
Berdache
If you have an interest in art, queer studies, human sexuality, or anthropology then you probably have come across the term “Berdache”. This term has long been known for its problematic nature when in 1993 a group of anthropologists and Indigenous groups came together and formally coined a new term, Two-Spirit, meant to replace it. The term “Berdache” has always been an offensive term, and it was one imposed upon Indigenous populations as a term of judgement against them. The term comes from either French or Persian and ultimately means “boy slave” or “male prostitute”, neither of which were meant to uplift but instead demean individuals who are held in great esteem among various Indigenous groups.
Works Cited
Alaers, Jill. " Two-Spirited People and Social Work Practice." Critical Social Work (2010). Electronic.
Hersher, Rebecca. "Why You Probably Shouldn't Say 'Eskimo'." 24 April 2016. NPR. Electronic. 8 December 2020.
Kaplan, Lawrence. "Inuit or Eskimo: Which name to use?" n.d. Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Electronic. 8 December 2020.
Naomi P. "The “G” Word Isn’t for You: How “Gypsy” Erases Romani Women." 2 October 2017. National Organization of Women. Electronic. 8 December 2020.
Reidy, Jessica. "The Harmful History of “Gypsy”." 11 August 2017. Bitch Media. Electronic. 8 December 2020.
Smith, Gwendolyn. "This historical painting shows a celebration of gender diversity. The title is a slur." 27 October 2018. LGBTQ Nation. Electronic. 8 December 2020.
