Chav

The term Chav (pronounced /ˈtʃæv/ (CHAV)) and other regional variations (see "Regional variations" below) is a derogatory term applied to certain young people in the United Kingdom. The stereotypical chav is an aggressive teenager or young adult who often engages in anti-social behaviour,^[1] such as street drinking, drug abuse and rowdy behaviour. They are often assumed to be unemployed or in a low paid job,^[2] although it is incorrect to assume that all chavs are working class, as chavs belong to no distinct social class. Stereotypical "chavs" typically wear tracksuits and hoodies made by sporting brands such as Nike and Adidas and listen to mainly MC and some have been known to listen to Rap, R'n'B, Hip Hop and Techno.^{[citation needed]}

A stereotypical "chav"

Response to the term has ranged from amusement to criticism that it is a new manifestation of classism.^[3] One BBC TV documentary suggested that "chav" culture is an evolution of previous working-class youth subcultures associated with particular commercial clothing styles, such as mods, skinheads and casuals.^[4] The term has been associated with juvenile delinquency, the ASBO Generation and yob culture.

Etymology

The word may have its origins in Romani language.^[5][6] One suggested etymology for "chav" is that it derives from the Romani word chavo, meaning boy (cf. "yob" - a reversal of boy).^[6][7] This is similar to the colloquial Spanish word chaval, meaning "kid" or "guy".^[7] The Romani chavo appears to have transferred to the Nonantum, Massachusetts dialect as "chabby", though without the negative connotations of "chav".^[8]

Many folk etymologies have sprung up around the word. These include the backronym "Council Housed And Violent",^[9] and the suggestion that pupils at Cheltenham Ladies' College and Cheltenham College used the word to describe the young men of the town ("Cheltenham Average").^{[7][not in citation given][10]}

Regional variations

Chavs are known by many different names around the UK and around the world.

Within The UK

Outside of the UK

Characterisation in the media

By 2004, it was used in national newspapers and common parlance in the UK. Susie Dent's Larpers and Shroomers: The Language Report, published by the Oxford University Press, designated it as the "word of the year"^[11] in 2004.^[12] A survey in 2005 found that in December 2004 alone 114 British newspaper articles used the word. The popularity of the word has led to the creation of sites devoted to cataloguing and mocking the "chav" lifestyle.

• The Welsh rap group, Goldie Lookin' Chain, have been described as both embodying and satirising the "chav" aesthetic, though the group themselves deny any such agenda, simply making a mockery of the subject.^[13] The British car-tuning magazine Max Power once had a beige Mk3 Vauxhall Cavalier stickered to make it look like the Burberry check, named it the "Chavalier" and gave it to the band.

• Footballer Wayne Rooney^[14] and his wife Coleen,^[15] rapper Lady Sovereign,^[16] glamour model Jordan,^[17] actress Danniella Westbrook,^[1] former Big Brother contestant Jade Goody,^[18][19][20] and Kerry Katona^[21] have also been labelled "chavs" by British tabloids and broadsheets.

• The character, clothing, attitude and musical interests of Lauren Cooper and her friends Lisa and Ryan in the BBC comedy series The Catherine Tate Show have been associated with the "chav" stereotype.^[22] Fellow sketch comedy series Little Britain features a character with some similarities, Vicky Pollard.^[23]

• In the 2005 reality TV programme Bad Lads' Army: Officer Class, a number of small time thieves and street brawlers underwent 1950s style National Service Army training to see which of them would be worthy of becoming a British Army officer. The motto of the show was to convert "chavs" into "chaps".^{[citation needed]}

• In the revived-Doctor Who serial New Earth, antagonist Cassandra takes over the body of Rose Tyler. In a tongue-in-cheek reinforcement of the often classist nature of the term, Cassandra, who considers herself very much a member of the upper class, sees herself in a mirror as the working-class Rose and exclaims in horror, "Oh my God! I'm a chav!"

Criticism of the stereotype

The widespread use of the "chav" stereotype has come under criticism; some argue^[24] that it amounts to simple snobbery and elitism,^[3] and that serious social problems such as Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, teenage pregnancy, delinquency and alcoholism in low-income areas are not subjects for derision. Critics of the term have argued that its users are "neo-snobs",^[25] and that its increasing popularity raises questions about how British society deals with social mobility and class.^[1] In a February 2005 article in The Times, Julie Burchill argued that use of the word is a form of "social racism", and that such "sneering" reveals more about the shortcomings of the "chav-haters" than those of their supposed victims.^[26] The writer John Harris argued along similar lines in a 2007 article in The Guardian.^[27]

Commercial effect

Burberry is a clothing company whose products became associated with the "chav" stereotype. Burberry's appeal to "chav" fashion sense is a sociological example of prole drift, where an up-market product begins to be consumed en masse by a lower socio-economic group. Burberry has argued that the brand's popular association with "chav" fashion sense is linked to counterfeit versions of the clothing. "They’re yesterday's news", stated Stacey Cartwright, the CEO of Burberry. "It was mostly counterfeit, and Britain accounts for less than 10% of our sales anyway."^[28] The company has taken a number of steps to distance itself from the stereotype. It ceased production of its own branded baseball cap in 2004 and has scaled back the use of its trademarked checkered/tartan design to such an extent that it now only appears on the inner linings and other very low-key positions of their clothing.^[29][30] It has also taken legal action against high-profile infringements of the brand. In August 2006, a company introducing tuk-tuk vehicles into the south coast town of Brighton, England named one the "Chavrolet", which had it painted in the distinctive Burberry tartan. However, the company soon had to withdraw this vehicle when Burberry threatened proceedings for breach of copyright.^[31]

The large supermarket chain Asda has attempted to trademark the word "chav" for a new line of confectionery. A spokeswoman said: "With slogans from characters in shows such as Little Britain and The Catherine Tate Show providing us with more and more contemporary slang, our Whatever sweets — now nicknamed chav hearts — have become very popular with kids and grown-ups alike. We thought we needed to give them some respect and have decided to trademark our sweets."^[32]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chavs

References

Further reading

• Keith Hayward and Majid Yar (2006). "The "chav" phenomenon: Consumption, media and the construction of a new underclass". Crime, Media, Culture 2 (1): 9–28. doi:10.1177/1741659006061708. 

Articles

• Larcombe, Duncan (2006-04-10). "Future bling of England". The Sun Online. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006160428,00.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06. 
• Ward, David (2004-10-09). "Get hip to Chav as this year's wizard word". The Guardian (Guardian Unlimited). http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1330487,00.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06. 
• Jackson, Melissa (2005-01-10). "Music to deter yobs by". BBC News Magazine (bbc.co.uk). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4154711.stm. Retrieved 2007-03-06. 
• "End Of 'Hooligan' Cap". Sky News. 2004-09-10. http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13218423,00.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06. 
• Lewis, Jemima (2004-02-01). "In defence of snobbery". Daily Telegraph. http://opinion.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/02/01/do0109.xml. Retrieved 2007-03-06. 
• Harris, John (2007-03-06). "So now we've finally got our very own 'white trash'". The Guardian (Guardian Unlimited). http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2027432,00.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06.