IntroductionRomanticized in children's stories and used as a threat by parents to discipline their unruly children, the term "gypsy" has always given rise to images of exotic, wild, unruly lifestyles , bohemians, considered pagans. and of an ungodly nature. Scantily clad women reading fortunes from a crystal ball in elaborate wheeled carts with musicians and crooks around, gypsies were said to steal your children, your wives and your money during the night. Even today, the term "gypped", which dates back to 1899, is still used in casual conversation, perhaps without knowing its origin, by many to mean "to be robbed". (quote here) Folk tales and mysterious myths have haunted the Roma everywhere they go. The truth behind this mysterious and highly private culture of people, known as Roma, can be difficult to gather, as they do not chat with outsiders, nor do they report through a census or other government means, therefore this article will look at an overview of their much misunderstood culture and how family nursing can better assist the care and lives of Roma people.HistoryThe term "gypsy", the slang term for Roma people, is considered derogatory to many and is not favored as a way to identify, as the word was created to describe these travelers as being from Egypt, which was an incorrect assumption. The Roma are historically native to India. Although no one is really sure of the time period, it is estimated that it was around 1000 AD that they left for new lands and are documented as the first people of color to immigrate to Europe in such large numbers (article Bearspace). They are a nomadic people and they prefer to move and settle whenever and wherever they want and while the ...... middle of paper ...... he earns a lot of money. Rules are relaxed among children, but strictly enforced for adults, especially female members of the community. Women also go through a more delicate time within Roman culture, operating around the belief that Romani women are contaminated and impure after childbirth and menstruation. They are immediately isolated from the rest of the community and held to the principle that anything that happens in the lower half of the body is not pure. Prejudice is a huge obstacle and stressor for the Roman people. Works cited Edelman C., MC (2010). Health promotion throughout life. (7th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier. Kaakinen J., G.-DV (2010). Family health nursing. (4th ed.). Philadelphia: FA Davis Company. Sutherland, A. (September 1992). Cross-cultural medicine: Gypsies and health care. The Western Journal of Medicine, 276-280