'I want to break down stereotypes of Gypsy women'

The founder of a Romany community group says she wants to fight back against "frustrating" misconceptions about Gypsy and traveller women.

Charmaine Abdul-Karim created Pride of Romany in 2022, with the aim of preserving Britain's Romany heritage, while countering stereotypes about the community.

As part of her work, she has organised a women's empowerment day set to take place in her hometown of Nantwich, Cheshire, on Monday.

"There is a misconception that Gypsy and traveller women are not empowered - that we are subservient and all we do is stay at home to cook and clean," Abdul-Karim told BBC Radio Stoke.

She said the stereotypes were "very frustrating", adding that Romany and traveller women were "much more than that".

"There are so many Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller women who are business owners," she added. "Historically, our women have been the breadwinners."

Abdul-Karim said examples included women who were clothes designers, sold homeware, ran aesthetics businesses and owned boutiques.

"I wanted to show the world that this is more relevant to who the modern Gypsy woman is, who the modern Irish Traveller woman is," she said.

Billed as a celebration of culture, strength and entrepreneurship, the women's empowerment day will include Romany Gypsy and traveller-owned stalls along with live interviews and advice on NHS support.

Abdul-Karim said anybody was welcome to attend, adding: "We want to build a bridge between the Gypsy and travelling communities and the wider community,"

Claire Smith, from the NHS's Mid Cheshire Community Services, will be at the event and said she wanted to encourage more Gypsy and traveller women to access healthcare.

She said many do not attend screenings because of "previous stigma" or of past experiences of the NHS "getting it wrong".

"What we need to do is to really break down those barriers and say 'this is what we can offer you, it's not as frightening as you think'," Smith said.

"People only know what we know and sometimes that wrong information can really create those barriers."

The Pride of Romany Women's Empowerment Day will take place at Nantwich Civic Hall from 10:00 to 16:00 BST.

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