In response to Chavs by Owen Jones
Owen Jones LIVE on Chavs: The Demonization of the White Working Class
I will be answering questions about Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class on the discussion board on Tuesday 28 June, from 12 noon (BST). Post your questions here in advance, and please join us on the day.
From my latest blog post:
“In his review of my book, Michael Collins suggests that the ‘chav’ word is somehow outmoded. I strongly disagree. Its usage remains prevalent: whether in daily conversations or internet forums. But above all the use of ‘chav’ caricatures—whether the actual word ‘chav’ is invoked or not-is still rampant. The idea that we're all middle class, apart from a feckless, work-shy rump living on ‘sink estates’ is embraced by politicians and journalists alike. The reality of Britain's working-class majority remains absent from our TV screens, newspapers and from our politicians’ speeches.”
In response to Chavs by Owen Jones
3 responses
can you recomend further reading on researching this class conflict because i am from a working class backgroung and definatley feel like we are looked down upon and even oppressed by the middle class and the media
Michael Steven Phipps
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28 June 2011
I'm not sure it's fair to imply that misrepresentation of the working class is something that applies exclusively to the 'chavs' phenomenon. Surely politicians', TV's, and the media's depictions of the middle classes, or of ethnic minorities, or of, let's say, women, are just as over-simplified and just as prone to caricature? It's in the nature of any form of mass communication, so what differentiates the way that working-class people are depicted?
Anonymous
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28 June 2011
I have just got your book but not read it yet but soungds very interesting to me, i come from a working class background and definatley feel like we are looked down upon and stereotyped negativley and even oppressed by the middle class and the media. Can you suggest further reading for me on this class inequality
Michael Steven Phipps
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28 June 2011