Sites, welfare and ‘barefoot begging’: Roma and Gypsy/Traveller experiences of racism in Scotland

This paper emerges from ongoing ethnographic fieldwork with both Roma communities from central and Eastern Europe (CEE) who have migrated to Scotland in recent years as well as indigenous Scottish Gypsy/Travellers. The author reflects on who the communities are and what connects as well as distinguishes them. It is argued that experiences and representations of racism is a connecting matter for the communities but one that tends to manifest itself in different varieties and forms; in the case of Scottish Gypsy/Travellers it is primarily matters of sites and accommodation that pre-occupy flattie (non-Traveller) society whilst in the case of CEE Roma it is access to welfare and immigration status that concern gadzhe (non-Roma). Overall, it is suggested that whilst Scotland makes bold claims to having “no racism here” this is just not the case regarding CEE Roma and Gypsy/Traveller minorities who endure the impact and consequences of racism daily.