The posssibility of understanding Gypsyness: Asociological research on Gypsies (The case of Malatya)

In this doctoral study, Gypsies settled in Malatya are viewed from a sociological perspective and in this respect topics such as the socio-economic, -cultural and -political characteristics, religious lives, changing professions of Gypsies, problems they face in general, such as exclusion and poverty foremost, their capabilities in coping with those problems, their relations with non-Gypsies, their future expectations are examined. The study is based on fieldwork supported by interviews and observation data in addition to a survey made with 249 participants settled in Malatya. With respect to research findings, findings have been reached among Gypsies living in Malatya such as low level of education, commonality of marriage at an early age, working generally in marginal jobs, experiencing unemployment, poverty and precarity intensely, harbouring in unhealthy dwellings, existence of a high crime rate among them, having only limited relationship with non-Gypsies and being exposed to various exclusion applications. On the other hand, considering the socio-historical background of Gypsies it has been detected that a series of factors such as myths, legends, bias and social stigma related to Gypsies play role in the making of Gypsyness and its reproduction in public sphere in general. Keywords: Gypsies, Gypsyness, Gypsy Culture, Gypsy İdentity, Exclusion, Otherness, Disadvantageousness, Marginality, Malatya.