Survey: Because I'm a Traveller
Most Travellers can give a range of examples of how they
have been and are discriminated against because of their Traveller
identity.
There are Travellers who decide not to socialise or
use certain services because they are afraid that yet again they will
be "made a show of", or embarrassed. Yet many people who are not
experiencing discrimination themselves fail to acknowledge it is an
issue in Irish society that must be effectively addressed through a
range of measures including strong anti-discrimination legislation.
So
ITM conducted a survey of Travellers through its membership on a range
of service provision including shops, hotels, pubs, medical and welfare
services. The following data highlights the findings of this research.
PUBS
| 89.7% said they went to a pub | 77.2% had been told to leave a pub by bar staff | 78.6% had been refused a drink | 70.8% had been refused "because we were Travellers" |
HOTELS
| 60.8% said they had tried to book a hotel | 75.7% of these had experienced problems | 46.9% said that it was "because we were Travellers" | 44.9% were asked to leave or cancel |
SHOPS
| 53.9% said they had been asked to leave a shop | 66.1% had experienced others being served before them | 60% had been "made a show of" (embarrassed) in shops |
HAIRDRESSERS
| 32.5% said they had been asked to leave a hairdressers | 31% had experienced others being served before them | 28.3% had been "made a show of" (embarrassed) in a hairdressers |
LAUNDRETTE
| 18.2% said they had been asked to leave a laundrette | 25.5% had experienced others being served before them | 24.7% had been "made a show of" (embarrassed) in a laundrette |
