Hi! Non-Roma (as well as Non-Bohemian, etc) here with some questions about alternatives to "Boho" as a style/fashion term, because I (and I'm sure many others) had read/assumed that Boho was the preferred, NON offensive alternative to """g*psy style""". I would love to have a better understanding of this and to pass a better term on to my peers as well, including my mother who is a small business owner.
Is there a good alternative to "boho" to refer to this style?
And of course, this is all dependent on another question... is the style itself appropriative? Are there any specifics that should be avoided?
I'm going to continue on under the assumption that for the most part, the style isn't appropriative (seeing as how it seems to not have any link to actual Romani or Bohemian culture anyway) but please do correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm including some input from an ethnic Bohemian (@gavrielabrahams) from the notes. I cropped some stuff out bc it wasn't specifically about the fashion/aesthetic style but the whole thing is worth a read.
I have seen things like "So-Cal Boho" and "Cali Boho," but, as gavrielabrahams said, this is a START but not ideal. My mother, who makes and sells jewelry of various styles, has played around some with throwing in words like fairy, traveler (is this appropriative when used in this context?? Re: the bit about "travellers" (2 Ls??) in the op,) mystic, wanderer, ren garb/faire garb (both referring to renaissance faires, a crowd I adore but that also desperately need an alternative to the g slur,) etc but typically she just adds one of those terms onto boho or the g slur, so like "fairy boho." (Also, is "boho" a slur when used by non-Bohemians? Or just an appropriative term being used wildly incorrectly??)
So far I think wanderer, roamer (hm might be too close to Roma?), drifter, wayfarer (too close to wayfair?), traveler (if not appropriative,) and fairy miiiight be good for the style. To be effective, the alternative would need to not only be a non-offensive term (I've seen "native" or "nature spirit" and I am white but... I can only assume plsno) that describes the style, but one that could catch on (so like "free spirit flow" or whatever I've seen some people try doesn't seem like it'll work to me.)
And as an added point, what about usage to "tag"/SEO a product? For instance, my mother often titles her product listing things like 'Boho Blue G*psy Bohemian Peacock Bracelet Set' or whatever (without the slur being censored, ofc.) I've tried to explain to her that these are not appropriate terms, but since a. I didnt know an appropriate alternative and b. "That's the SEO that sells," she hasn't made any changes.
Would it be helpful/acceptable to TITLE a product listing something non-appropriative (with the new term so that it begins the association) but include the appropriative terms in the tags/SEO dump at the bottom of the item description because that's what people are searching for? Thus, hopefully, reaching people who are SEARCHING for boho/g*psy styles and SHOWING them the alternative.
Obviously the goal is to eliminate use of the term entirely, and eliminating it from a personal lexicon is simple (just stop.) However, anyone who is trying to sell products of the (honestly clearly not actually Roma or Bohemian in nature) style is going to struggle eliminating the terms entirely.
Would love, actually, to have replies sent to my inbox (anon is fine) and/or to be tagged in any responses. Since I hang out with the ren faire crowd AND my mother sells "boho/g*psy" style products online I honestly feel I have easy access to two realms of influence here that consistently insist that "if there was another term, [they]'d use it." This is, honestly, a lazy excuse but it would be much easier to counter with a good alternative. With any luck, the new term will catch on and spread.
That being said, I don't want to just declare the alternative without input from those affected, but putting out a solid front for an alternative term will be most affective in eliminating use of the old terms. Any and all input from Bohemian and Romani people sorely needed!