The historical persecution, exclusion and discrimination suffered by the Pueblo Gitano in Spain are based on anachronistic prejudices and stereotypes. Despite the image that modern society has of itself, these stereotypes unfortunately remain very entrenched. This ignorance of the daily reality of Gitanos was cited by the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) in the first study on the social perception that Spaniards have of their ethnic compatriots. For example, 24.4% of those surveyed live mainly in chabolas. The reality is that there are only 2.17%. Some 70.7% believe that the majority of young families benefit from social benefits such as the minimum living income. I understand the 20%. Three of the four interviewees indicate that the majority of gitanos work as street vendors, another glaring prejudice. 53% are employees.
This year 2025 marks six stages of the first documentary recording of the arrival of the gypsies in Spain. Despite such a long coexistence and its contributions to the common heritage, despite the undeniable progress recorded since the return of democracy, Spain continues to pursue the integration of this collective and its real equality with the rest of its citizens with a clear and pending commitment.
Anti-gypsyism permeates the whole of society, which is also aware of the discrimination suffered by this group. 64% of those questioned recognize this discrimination. But at the same time, among Muslims, novels are the population group that arouses the least sympathy in Spain. An atavistic rejection has arisen in the face of this fear which has led to a serious exclusion of more than 1.3 million young people living in Spain, according to the latest FOESSA report.
This ignorance continues to hinder the development of an inclusive society, as the Consejo de Europa recently declared. Educational, economic and social integration is an irreplaceable instrument for putting an end to the stigma that continues to condemn the poor to marginality. The effort is particularly urgent in academic matters. Significantly reducing early school leaving of young children (around 63% drop out before completing ESO) must be the start of breaking the vicious circle of exclusion, poverty, mistrust and, consequently, further exclusion.
Even without a comprehensive law of recognition, equality and promotion of the gitano community, as last week began to complain about the FSG, there are instruments to move forward against its persistent discrimination, but they need the commitment of all. The principle of this path of integration that Spain owes to the Pueblo Gitano is to honestly recognize the evils as a society and to develop a pedagogy to put an end to them.
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