摘要：Through the Theory of Social Identity our objective was to know the stereotypes present in the rural imaginary related to the gypsy group, and the feelings associated with this ethnic group. Ten rural women, non-gypsies, residents of a rural Brazilian community, participated in this study. We analyzed the data through the ALCESTE software and Content Analysis. The analysis of the information obtained has allowed us to identify the feeling of fear as the main mediator of practices related to the gypsies, confirming characteristics widely present in the social imaginary about this ethnic group. There are present the classic stereotypes of thieves, criminals and the cursed. It discusses the dynamics of identity provoked by the conflict between the rural community and the gypsies, emphasizing the processes that guide the field of identification and differentiation in/out-group
