The role of play in the formation and maintenance of cultural identity: Gypsy children in home and school contexts

Levinson, M.P (2005) 'The role of play in the formation and maintenance of cultural identity: Gypsy children in home and school contexts.' Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 34 (5). pp. 499-532. ISSN 0891-2416

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0891241605279018

Abstract

Drawing on data from a three-and-a-half-year ethnographic study of Gypsy life in England, this article explores the orientations of Gypsy children toward play and the way in which play operates to affirm a separate identity and enforce boundaries. The apparently uncontrolled, and at times destructive, behavior of Gypsy children in a social/play context has been perceived by some observers as a barrier to educational progress. To illustrate and explore some of these themes, a number of vignettes are provided, through which patterns of play behavior are considered in different contexts, structured and unstructured, in home and school settings. Throughout the discussion, there is a search for sociocultural interpretations of play patterns that appear to differ from norms of the mainstream group, and an attempt is made to consider ways in which such patterns might fill a vacuum created by the erosion of traditional identity markers.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GT Manners and customs H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races L Education > L Education (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education L Education > LC Special aspects of education
Divisions:	School of Education
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1177/0891241605279018
Date Deposited:	13 Jan 2017 11:44
Last Modified:	15 Aug 2021 09:44
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/8828

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