‘What’s the plan?’ ‘What plan?’ Changing aspirations among Gypsy youngsters, and implications for future cultural identities and group membership

PublishedMartin Levinson University of Exeter Graduate School of Education Heavitree Road Exeter EX1 2LU United KingdomArticleThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in British Journal of Sociology of Education on 28 March 2014, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01425692.2014.897217Copyright © 2014 Taylor & FrancisConsidering data from a research project with two Gypsy communities (2010–2012) in South West England, this article explores issues of education and identity. The two communities have contrasting experiences within the education system. Informed by inter-disciplinary perspectives on identity and assimilation theories, the article explores these experiences within the wider context of the researcher’s work with Romani communities over the past two decades, exploring the impact of schooling on cultural identity and group membership. Questions are raised about theories concerning hybrid and multiple identities. Finally, the author emphasizes the need to acknowledge the heterogeneity of minority groups in formulating policy