Gypsies have become a very important social and cultural topic since the expansion of the EU to the East. Roma and Sinti are now the largest minority in the EU. There is also growing activism and attention on the part of human rights organizations and groups to the many forms of discrimination and oppression suffered by the various Roma populations in Europe.Gypsies are still discriminated against and stigmatized in European society, especially since the fall of communism. This book traces patterns of exclusion substantiated by stereotypes and prejudices associated with Gypsies in both Eastern and Western European cultures. It also refines the understanding of the diversity of Gypsy experiences within the Romani societies and lore and raises awareness about the social, cultural and political complexities of their lives, real or imagined.This book traces representations of 'Gypsies' that have become prevalent in the European imagination and culture and influenced the perceptions of Roma in Eastern and Western European societies.