Professional and educational experiences among Young Calon people from the gypsy community of Sousa-PB

Abstract

With the end of nomadism, many changes have been occurring in the lives of the Calon gypsies who live in the city of Sousa-PB. One of the main factors of this change concerns the sociability between gypsies and non-gypsies, which, if previously occurred almost exclusively for economic activity purposes, today occurs in many ways, including friendships, marriages, and school experiences. Younger gypsies have increasingly prioritized studies to better prepare themselves for the job market, even so, prejudice and discrimination have prevailed in the search for employment in the local private sector. Thus, this article addresses some cultural changes and their effects on younger people, in the search for education in the city. Interviews were conducted with young gypsies living in Sousa, whose statements were analyzed, as well as reflections on the daily lives of these young people in the interface between school education and job opportunities in the city’s private sector.