Stereotype n°8: Purity

Roma are often regarded as dirty. They are accused to be allergic to soap, afraid of water, and a source of disease. These are definitely stereotypes. Some Roma have limited access to fresh water because they live in isolated places without water pipes, plumbing, or indoor toilets. Finding a better place to live or improving living conditions is often difficult or impossible. The responsibility of reversing this situation stands on States and Governments which have the obligation to grant to every citizen the access to the basic social rights.

Cleanliness and purity were among the highest values of Roma traditions, both in the physical as well as in the ritual purity sense. There were very specific rules about personal hygiene, washing dishes and clothes, and about what kind of water to use. Taking a bath in a bath tub for example was forbidden, as this would mean to lie in ones own dirt.

Despite this, it is true that the life expectancy of Roma in many countries is 15 years less than that of the majority population, but again, the responsibility for this is not on the Roma who are simply the victims of lack of access to adequate utilities and to health care.