“What is to be a Gypsy?”: examining elementary school students’ knowledge on the ethnic group ; “O que é ser Cigano?”: análise do conhecimento de alunos do ensino básico sobre a etnia

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia ; The Gypsy ethnicity is a minority group that is largely discriminated. Although the many measures adopted in terms of their inclusion, the education’s field doesn’t have such a positive scenario. Previous research report that Gypsy children are not always well integrated in school and the discrimination suffered can be due to a lack of knowledge of their culture. The present study aims to analyze elementary school student’s knowledge on this ethnic group. Eighty definitions about the Gypsy ethnicity provided by students from the 4th grade were analyzed. Findings indicate that the majority of the participants report respect for an intra and intercultural diversity, attributes more “culture” than “nature” characteristics to this group, and holds a more positive connotation about the Gypsy people. However, the knowledge children have on Gypsies is poor. Children know that Gypsies have a different culture and beliefs and are worthy of respect and human rights, but they cannot define specifically this ethnicity. Participants with class experience with Gypsy children have a more positive opinion about Gypsies and a better understanding about them too. These results indicate the need to provide information to students about the Gypsy ethnicity. Incrementing their awareness about this group may help integrate Gypsies in school and, consequently, in the community they live in, and promote their school engagement. ; A etnia cigana é um grupo minoritário que é largamente discriminado. Apesar das várias medidas adoptadas com via à sua inclusão, no campo da educação o cenário não é tão positivo. Estudos anteriores mostram que as crianças Ciganas nem sempre são bem integradas na escola e que a discriminação que sofrem pode estar relacionada com a falta de conhecimento da sua cultura. O presente estudo tem como objectivo analisar o conhecimento acerca da etnia Cigana de alunos do ensino básico. Foram analisadas 80 definições sobre a etnia Cigana escritas por alunos do 4.º ano ...