I’m a traveler – everyone assumes us women aren’t allowed jobs, but there’s a reason we don’t work with rural people

A WOMAN in the travel community has debunked the myth that women don’t work.

Mum-of-two Heidi Clee has revealed the real reason why gypsies don’t work in normal environments.

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She revealed that there is a common misconception that female travelers tend to stay at home looking after the house and children rather than working, but that this was not always the case.

Responding on social media to a comment that said: “I’m Irish and I’ve never heard of a female traveler working, I don’t think their husbands/families allow it, good for you girl.”

But Heidi quickly revealed that wasn’t the case in a video.

The mother said: “When it comes to travelers and working gypsy women, it is never the case that they are not allowed to do so.

“That’s not the situation.

“Yes, we tend to live more traditional lives, with men working and women being homemakers.”

Heidi explained that she wasn’t speaking for everyone in the community, but this was her experience trying to work as a traveler.

She revealed that she worked countless jobs before becoming a mother, but there were two reasons why many decided not to enter the workforce and made it difficult.

Heidi said there was a lot of discrimination towards travelers in the job market, something she experienced first-hand.

While working, her employees discovered that she belonged to the traveling community and revealed that they would not have hired her if they had known.

Heidi continued: “In any other job I’ve had, I’ve never told them I’m a traveler for exactly that reason, I was going to get fired.

“We all know that. Like, that’s the way it is.”

One ONS Research revealed that Gypsy and Traveler participants described barriers to employment, including a lack of skills, education or formal qualifications, and perceived discrimination from employers, colleagues and the established community.

Although Heidi wasn’t happy about the discrimination she faced, she said it was inevitable and that’s why so many people in the travel community start their own businesses.

She added: “Instead, they open their own businesses and work under their own rules where they know they won’t get fired if anyone finds out they’re Travelers, because guess what? .”

Women in the community are often self-employed, she said, making dresses, homewares or becoming beauty experts so they can work on their own terms.

This also helps them have the freedom to continue traveling as and when they want.

“It’s definitely not the case that we’re not allowed to work,” she concluded.

“It’s just that the way we work is a little different, as is the way we live.”

The clip posted to his TikTok account @h.mccc was flooded with comments praising Heidi for speaking out about the discrimination she and other travelers face.

People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments.

One person wrote: “Oh, Heidi. It’s horrible that people say that and are like that.

Another commented: “It’s absolutely disgusting that people think they have the right to talk and treat other people like this… I’m so sorry!”

“I just don’t understand why people treat you this way. Every exhibit I saw of your community was so lovely. I admire your values,” wrote a third.

Meanwhile, a fourth said: “This is horrible. I can’t believe this is a real thing. There should be a law that defends their rights and that truly puts an end to this discrimination.”

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