October News - Women Through the Century: Youth
Being a Young Traveller Woman
The last 100 years has seen immense changes for young Traveller women. At the same time, many of the traditional attitudes and ways of life remain. The Pavee Point Youth Office explains.
Role in the Family
Young Traveller women have always played an important role in the family. Today they continue to do so. This is especially true of the eldest girl in the family.
In the past it was the eldest girls. responsibility to look after the younger children, when her mother was not available. This was very important in economic terms. Most Traveller mothers earned a living by selling door-to-door and by begging and so would be out and about during the day. This was an income their families depended on and it meant they simply could not stay at home to look after the children.
Today, many Traveller mothers are educating themselves and doing training courses. While doing so, it is often the eldest girl. s responsibility to look after the children. When the eldest girl marries, the next in line takes over these responsibilities.
Nowadays, the eldest girl, herself, may be in school or on a training course.
With increased restrictions on nomadism, many Travellers spend more time with their own extended families. And now, they often depend on these family members to look after younger children.
Marriage
In the past, marriages were often arranged between the parents of two families. In recent years this has changed. Many young Travellers have a bigger say in who their future partner will be. However, as young Travellers have little opportunity to socialize beyond their extended family, a marriage may still be influenced by parents.
Earlier this Century women married in their early 20s. In the Fifties and Sixties the marriage age dropped to 15 - 17 but has risen again in recent years.
Interaction with Wider Society
The Traveller community is a close community. This has an enormous effect on how young Travellers are brought up, especially young Traveller women.
Most Travellers fear many of the negative aspects of settled youth culture and are very protective of their daughters and where they go. This has not always been the case. During the early part of the century, young Traveller women felt less restricted. Their families travelled more. This gave them a greater opportunity to socialize with other Traveller families.
Today, the majority of young Travellers remain on halting sites and children stay in school longer. Many Traveller families feel the need to protect their girls from many of the influences of wider society. Traveller boys have a lot more freedom. This imbalance is slowly beginning to change with more Traveller women challenging sexism within the community. This may effect their daughters in years to come.
Value of Education
During the first half of this century the majority of young Travellers would not have attended school. When old enough they would help their mother and fathers at their trade of tin-smithing, seasonal farm work, selling, begging and looking after the younger siblings.
There wasn. t the same value on, or the necessity for, education. The Traveller community was more self-sustaining. During the last couple of decades this has changed. With industrialization, social welfare and increased racism and discrimination towards Travellers - more Traveller parents see the value of education.
As the education system does not place any value on Traveller culture, many young Travellers continue drop out of school early. They tell of how they have been segregated in school and are taught only the "settled" way of living. In order to encourage young Traveller women and men to remain within the system, the curriculum needs to become intercultural.
Youth Culture
It is only in the last number of years that young Traveller women have become influenced by settled youth culture. This has been brought about by television, radio, schools and restrictions on nomadism. The effects of mainstream films, magazines and music would not have been felt as much by many of their parents.
In terms of exposure to pop culture, young Travellers are now experiencing what settled young people experienced in the 60. s and 70. s.
Many young Travellers now dress according to the dictates of pop culture. The tradition of wearing large ornate earrings remains strong.
It is interesting to see that some of the more negative aspects of settled youth culture have not appeared in young Traveller women lives, such as under-age drinking and drug abuse. Recent research has shown that it is only later on in life that Traveller women may be effected by these influences.
Photo Caption: The Young Women. s Group, Coolock on a week trip to Cavan as part of Pavee Point. s Youthwork 2000 Summer Programme.