What would you think of me if you were reading a blog post and I used the word ‘nigger’?
What would you think of me if you were reading a blog post and I used the word ‘queer’?
What would you think of me if you were reading a blog post and I used the word ‘retard’?
I’m guessing you’d be really shocked and appalled, right? Shocked that a (reasonably) well-educated woman would use such inflammatory, bigoted and ignorant language, yes?
Well, dear readers, this happens to me all the time. There’s a word that I see popping up here and there, from people I consider to be pretty enlightened, that makes me feel increasingly uncomfortable.
The ‘C’ word. No, not c*nt, I’m not that delicate. The word that offends me so is chav.
This is a word that has now made it into the Oxford English dictionary and is defined thusly:
a young lower-class person typified by brash and loutish behaviour and the wearing of (real or imitation) designer clothes.
According to the dictionary, it could be either a contraction of the Romany word ‘chavvy’, meaning child or young person, or from the place ‘Chatham’ in Kent where the word supposedly started.
Either way, do you see the key phrase in there?
‘Lower class’.
This is the point – if you wouldn’t use nigger, queer or retard, you have no place using the word chav. If you’re shocked and offended by racism, homophobia or discrimination against disability, why does classist intolerance not have the same effect? It’s not okay to hate or judge someone because of the colour of their skin, their sexuality or how able-bodied they are, so can someone explain why it’s okay to mock, deride and write off a subset of society because of what they were born into? What they’ve been brought up knowing? What they maybe couldn’t afford or have the resources to remove themselves from?
I think Plan B put it a lot better than me in his TED lecture when he said this:
“I believe that there is a demonisation of the youth throughout the media. And people are falling for it, because if you’d had no direct contact with the kids that I’m talking about how the hell can you judge them? Because you’re only judging them based on something you read in a newspaper, aren’t you?
See, this fuels the fire. If you call kids words that are derogatory to them just because they are unlucky enough to be born into a family that couldn’t afford to give them the education that you had, they’re going to hate you. Of course they’re going to hate you and you’re going to hate them because of their actions. And it’s this vicious circle that goes round. By calling these kids these words you push them out of your society and they don’t feel part of it. You beat them into apathy and in the end they just say: “Cool, I don’t care. I don’t want to be part of your society.”"
So, maybe you should think about that, next time you label someone a chav.
I agree 100%
I was recently at a bbq with many close friends and several of them remarked on the shirt I was wearing, referring to the shirt as a ‘chav’ shirt, therefore referencing myself as a ‘chav’.
My guess is that it was a ‘joke’ for them, but I found myself genuinely puzzled by the reaction of friends whom I had considered to be educated and culturally open minded.
When challenged I corrected them on the origin’s of the Ben Sherman clothing brand and pointed out that whether I was wearing that shirt or a cloth sack, it should not make one blind bit of difference.
I do fear for the damage that our media does.
I think you raise another good point, about the friction between ‘trends’ if you like. Knowing you as I do, I wonder how many of your friends would be happy to be labelled as ‘a dirty grunger’ or something of that description? (Pardon me for being so nineties, I can’t think of another expression for a fan of Metal that’s vaguely derogatory!) Everyone’s so happy inside their little bubble, shooting names and pigeon holes around that we forget about the person and circumstances behind the clothes and musical preferences and as you say, the media only fuels these flames. And it always surprises me too, when people who would consider themselves to be ‘alternative’ and probably bemoan others judgement of them, then act so judgementally towards another group. I guess everyone just wants someone to look down their nose at.
Thanks for commenting.
I bought this the other week, haven’t read it yet though.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chavs-The-Demonization-Working-Class/dp/1844678644/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343833675&sr=8-1
Thanks Caz, I’m going to give that a read.
I think that Plan B quote is absoluterly spot on! I also work with 11-16 years old and actually have a lot of faith in the future generation. I really don’t agree though that the word Chav can be likened to words born from years of slavery, violent oppression, intense hatred/beatings and ignorance etc, and on a global scale too. I get what you mean – but I still think the other examples you gave are far more offensive. x
I know what you’re saying and I’m not suggesting that the word chav is on par with the ‘n’ word in terms of how it’s been used over the years and the impact that it has, I’m just using it as an example of hateful language that people would never dream of using, yet continue to use hateful language of other kinds. People blanch at racism and homophobia (and rightly so), yet think nothing or discriminating against ‘class’, which for me is a real issue.
Thanks for commenting.
Don’t panic Jayne, I’m not going to start another blog comment war
but I do have some insight in to this topic.
Firstly, although as you have referenced, the definition of Chav is “…lower class youth…” it appears to me that many are not what has traditionally been categorised as lower class, and many come from affluent backgrounds. As with many groups, especially amongst youngsters, it is more a social group, than simply a demographic – like goths, grungers, alternatives etc. For example, a lot of the clothing that chavs wear is expensive.
Therefore, although this may be how the term started, as a derogatory term for a group of people from a particular class, it has now become something that is well known enough that, to become a Chav, you would have to buy into it, by dressing and acting a certain way, regardless of class. Whether someone is rich or poor they can choose how they dress and act in public.
Lastly, there is are two ‘C’ words I would use for Plan B, one is four letters and not suitable for here – the other is cretin. I have worked first hand with the youth of today for about eight years – and I have no hope whatsoever for the future. The worst (and fastest growing) end of the spectrum are a violent, disrespectful, self-righteous group of savages (I refer you to the 2011 riots). So maybe the term “chav” has evolved – as several university students, a millionaire’s daughter and many others that would not fit the definition of “chav” were amongst those responsible. As for that total arse Plan B saying they’re demonised, that’s just laughable – the youth of today expect the world, and instead of working for it they think they can just take it – not just the “lower class” but all those who act like “chavs”.
So, is “chav” class based, or is it now a social group, regardless of wealth or class? Essentially, as is human nature, people will be stereotyped by the way they choose to dress and act, without others knowing that individual’s specific circumstances – therefore, to be called a chav now, you would already have decided to be seen in this way, and made a conscious decision to become a chav.
I think you raise some valuable points, mate.
We certainly do live in a society now that’s driven by want rather than need. Years ago people would be happy to have food to eat, to be alive, but now they want 50″ plasma TV’s and gold chains – and they think that it’s their ‘human right’ to have things like that, they don’t have any inclination of working to try and get them.
I don’t want to come across as a miserable, jaded old buzzard but when you look at role models they revere its easy to see why they think its acceptable to do wrong. They’re looking up to people that are self proclaimed drug dealers, gang bangers and other ‘decent’ types, who are now multi-millionaires that preach about they riches they’ve got.
I do think that the term Chav has come a long way though, it doesn’t just refer to someone wearing Burberry and doing wrong these days. People who come from more sheltered, comfortable backgrounds tend to use the term (wrongly) to refer to anyone in market clothes or cheap jewellery, and not everyone they’re branding deserves it. To an extent it’s become a neologism, a socially acceptable way of calling someone a peasant, and that’s pretty destructive.
The issues with our society run bloody deep. Like you said, the riots showed us what a large portion of today’s youth are willing to do, and they were rich and poor alike. They didn’t go sacking Waterstones, it wasn’t an education they were trying to pillage, it was Jordans, PS3′s and Flat Screen TV’s. I think a massive issue is the spread of consumerism. The PR and Ad people are so good at their jobs now that everyone HAS to have things.
I look at a Sunseeker and think ‘oh well, that would be a nice treat if I won the lottery’, but deep down I know and accept that its something that I won’t have in my life, just like a £400k Rolex, but many of today’s young people have no such restraint. They want. They take.
As for Plan B – I couldn’t agree more about him being a knob-jangler. Him and his meteoric rise to stardom can burst into flames as far as I’m concerned. But owing to large swathes of youngsters being helmets the rest get a suspicious eye cast over them – but its nothing new.
I don’t know, although the word makes me cringe and therefore I never use it, the people I know normally use it in reference to mouthy lager louts that have been rude, tried to pick a fight with or steal something from them.. I think it’s fair to give those people a label but in the context it’s obviously ment to be in, no way! People can’t help being brought up in a family with no money but everybody can afford manners x
One problem here is that the dictionary definition of chav is not how many people actually define a chav. A lot of footballer’s wives are referred to as chavs despite their wealth and social standing.
Personally, I’ve never considered the term as a description of any particular social class, but more of a label for people who demonstrate no sense of class (as in manner). To me, a chav is a derogatory term to describe people who are rude, lazy, ignorant, ill-mannered and who place more importance on material possessions (which they wrongly feel that they have a right to) than on respect (both self and for others) and family values. I have known people in all social classes behave in this abhorrent way and who I would consider to be chavs, but I don’t really consider it wrong to label them as such when they are quite content to be so repugnant.
What is wrong is when people in the lower classes are thrown into the same category without having done anything to place them there. Being lower class does not equate to being ignorant, bad-mannered or disrespectful. Social class does not affect a person’s ability to behave with respect and decency. But as per usual, the media (and tragically, the riots) have gone a long way to making it appear that the lower classes are all of the same mindset.
Yet another very thought-provoking post, well done
xx
What about ned? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ned
I’m glad to see, for once, I appear to have an opinion that is shared. As Tony, Jazza and Nicola have said, essentially being a chav is not really class based – more based on your actions and your outlook on society. As for the disenfranchised youth, of which that halfwit Plan B speaks, there are thousands of youngsters from impoverished backgrounds that work there arses off at school, sometimes whilst also caring for siblings or even parents, that will grow up to be successful people – because they’ll work for it.
There are hundreds of success stories of people from poor families that have become a success – Alan Sugar, Lewis Hamilton etc. But there are thousands of chavs, of all backgrounds who choose to be chavs. If nothing else, this post has taught me that my usage of chav is correct, and I’ll continue to use it in that context.