Stereotype n°11: Children

Since birth rates among Roma are generally higher than among non-Roma, it is feared in many countries than Roma will out-baby the majority population. No one looks at the positive aspect of this, i.e. that Roma, as well as the immigrant population, indirectly help to combat Europe’s population ageing.

Roma children are often seen as filthy beggars or pick pockets. Their parents do not seem to look after them well and are assumed to be ready to exploit them. Roma parents love their children just as much as any other parents. Children are adored and cherished and the whole family feels responsible to raise a child. The ways Roma children are raised might differ from that of the majority population and reflects the harsh reality in which Roma live in. Roma children grow up in traditional families and mostly learn by example and not by teaching. This learning method is also used by other people who live in harsh environments and cannot dedicate a lot of time to teaching (for example the Inuit, who are pejoratively called Eskimos). Learning by example includes processes of observation, imitation, and, later on, participation.

If some Roma children are seen begging or caught pick pocketing, this should be regarded as an indicator of the harsh social climate in which their specific community has to live. In this respect, is interesting to quote the Italian Ministry of Internal affairs, Mr. Giuliano Amato, who said –during a visit to a Roma settlement in Roma, Italy, on 15 August 2006- “the recognition of Roma rights is a European topic which concerns everybody; Italy is one of the countries where the Roma minority is not recognised; nonetheless Italian Roma are ready to be part of Italian society but they face too many difficulties for integrating the school system and getting a job. One cannot simply believe that Roma children are criminals by nature: one should look at the reasons and conditions that push some Roma children to become criminals" (source: Source: http://passineldeserto.blogosfere.it/2006/08/amato_occorre_r.html )