Paper short abstract:

Gypsies, Travellers or Roma and even UK female academics have experienced exclusions as ‘enemies within’, despite significant contributions to dominant systems. Prevention of racism and sexism depends on more than reactive legislation, but inner commitment and varied strategies by the stigmatised.

Paper long abstract:

Gypsies, Travellers or Roma are portrayed as the 'enemy within', unless exotic phantoms far away. Simultaneously, they have been economically indispensible. For decades, Gypsies and Scottish Travellers were primarily responsible for seasonal agricultural work. Their mobility and portable accommodation were crucial. Since compulsory sedentarisation, this is deleted from history, even by economist 'experts'.

Elsewhere under communism, Gypsies traded 'forbidden' consumer goods. After the communist collapse, entrepreneurship became acceptable- the Roma niche appropriated. When factories closed, Roma were the first made redundant. Roma purchased and recycled the derelict machinery. Others were abandoned in poverty. After EU expansion, Roma migrated, becoming 'foreign' enemies within. Although EU inclusion demanded improved Roma integration, this was side stepped. Roma migration included gifted scholars and professionals, rendered invisible.

Tabloids soon revived alien myths that Gypsies steal children. Hence the stolen 'Blonde Maria' in Greece, choosing 'racial' profiling over investigation exposing albinism. Myths travelled to Dublin, instigating ruthless police seizure of 'stolen' Roma children. Even Oxford professionals internalize the enemy myths of Gypsy theft, whether my Bank Manager or GP.

Vital comparisons with experiences as 'enemy within' are found also in auto/ethnography at a northern UK university. Footsteps retrace institutionalised sexism as well as racism. From 1976, this anthropology lecturer became 'female enemy within academia', so initially excluded from staff library access, university accommodation, college dining and staff club. Female academics were forbidden to lecture about 'women', denied marriage, parenthood and cohabitation. Male academics, the 'natural' insiders, took for granted everything once forbidden to the female 'other'.