To think 'chav' is not an okay thing to call people?

Class and income are not the same thing and calling someone a chav is absolutely about class and class signifiers.

It's a horrible insult that's evolved from a word (that wasn't originally an insult) and has developed different meanings - so a lot of people will be genuine in not knowing it's origins.

Some may be too young or too ignorant to understand the origins, but now they know - and still they use it.
Chavvy may have dropped into popular parlance, but it's meaning does not change.

According to certain posters it's native to Bolton or interchangeable for Essex.
I've been to Bolton the people I met were incredibly nice and friendly. And Essex is a very large and predominantly wealthy area.
Regarding names I think in 1981 some posters would ave considered Zara chavvy until Princess Anne chose it.

@gardenmusic although I think this thread started due to another thread about whether going on holiday to an all inclusive hotel in Egypt will be "full of chavs" which is a horrible thing to say but I really don't think they would have meant it as "will the hotel be full of Romany people"?
The Romany word might be it's origins but as this thread shows it's evolved and developed different meanings (the "Council House Alcoholic and Violent" that some people think it stands for) so when people use it they aren't using it as an insult to Romany people - they are using it to insult a different demographic of people. (I know "demographic" isn't the right word for Romany people - but I hope you get what I mean)
It's a horrible insult that's evolved from a word (that wasn't originally an insult) and has developed different meanings - so a lot of people will be genuine in not knowing it's origins.

This might interest the minority here:

There are 1/4 sessions court records from the 1700's that describe "The examinant" "an Egyptian Sibylline woman" who was "encamped upon the parish common land" following her husbands deportation under 'the Egyptian act,' giving witness of "carnal knowledge of mine chavi's body" and he "hadde by vyolent means spoiled her againste her will" from a Romani mother about her daughter's rape and who is "now with child".
The mother and daughter have been brought before a 'Knight' who is one of 'their Majesties Justices of the peace' to explain the amount she is demanding the 'natural father of the bastard child' should pay towards its upkeep.
She refers to her daughter as "a Kalderash chavy three seasons and some odd dayes past her eleaventh year". (a specific 'caste' of Romani girl a bit under 12)
The clerk recorded her as having repeatedly shouted in "adulterouse cant"
"Sir mengrowe rabolnl arymy chavy!" which was recorded in the belief it might be a "curse" or attemt to "defame" the JP.
Most likely translation is 'Kimengro rabolin ari mi chavvi' which basically means 'this worm of a being has ruined/spoilt my little/young girl.'

Mans defense is everyone knows that any female 'of the common' land is 'by nature of poor worth' (no money or value) 'of common use' (free to use) and 'incontinent' (has sex outside of marriage) so "he didde cast her downe againste the ground at ye said common whilest" she "laboured scouring herbes with waters boyled over the fire."

It goes on to describe bruising and no suggestion she was willing, but he's not denying what he did, as there's a witness and her being 'of the commons' means there's no actual crime.
Her mother on the girls behalf requires 'more then he was willed to geve for her isue' (isue means the baby, not how it came to be)

What's before the court is the mother and children are living a settled life on the commons which means their existence is not illegal, however the mother is "of low means and worth" and unable to support her daughter's additional child.

There's no crime because the girl is considered part of common property and use, as she was 'untended.'
The pregnancy is known about and abortion and infanticide is by then a big legal issue. The parish wants to prevent 'bastard children becoming a charge on the rates' and must adjudicate on the amount being demanded to support the resultant child.

Poor little commons chavvi indeed.

You are, though, ignoring the fact some of us think it is CHeltenham AVerage. There are, in any case, lots of words that have a usage that doesn’t reflect the etymology.

Calliopespa · Today 12:45
gardenmusic · Today 12:36
Calliopespa · Today 12:20
I’m afraid I also think too much make-up, obviously dyed hair ( esp bleached look), trout pout, and dressing too obviously “up for it” ( so high leg slit PLUS low cut top, or slap-me tight leather pants etc) looks chavvy

So you are saying that these people look like a romany child? Come on, let's have it.
Nope. Definitely not saying that - which is precisely why I said whatever the word origins may be, I think in application the term has nothIng to do with race.

I just cannot explain anymore.

You are making a racist connotation. It has everything to do with race. You don't say 'he /she looks so French, German, Liverpudlian, because they dress or act in a certain way. Chavvy is not a term - it means Romany/Gypsy child.

Southener, It's like they have been set some homework
'What does the word Chavvy mean to you'
A carrot is a carrot, it's not a weirdly shaped potato. There is no 'what the word means to you' in this case. A chavvy is a Romany child.
Most of these posters know exactly what it means and are being 'covertly' racist.

Newsflash - it's no longer open season on Romanies and Gypsy's.
Hatred of ethnic minority children, and on a site called 'Mumsnet'.

Nope. Definitely not saying that - which is precisely why I said whatever the word origins may be, I think in application the term has nothIng to do with race.

Of course it’s not and never has been ok to use

so much snobbery on MN

those that use the term make themselves look foolish I was told o must have looked a chav as I had my ears pierced at a young age 🙄

people often wear clothing that identifies the group they belong to or want to why else would Boden be popular

Yes but Karen has become a misogynistic term used to shut women up. You can't change the fact that you're a woman. A chav is about a way some people dress and behave, anyone can easily choose not to be a chav - my working class parents were definitely never chavs - it's not something unavoidable by the working classes or anyone else. It was yoof culture at its most ridiculous IMO and often involved antisocial behaviour.

It's had it's time really and is now mostly just related to names. Roadman seemed to take over from it round here although both terms have been around for a long time apparently.

Calliopespa · Today 12:20
I’m afraid I also think too much make-up, obviously dyed hair ( esp bleached look), trout pout, and dressing too obviously “up for it” ( so high leg slit PLUS low cut top, or slap-me tight leather pants etc) looks chavvy

So you are saying that these people look like a romany child? Come on, let's have it.

Searching for patterns is a basic feature of human brains, yes. And of course it is central to any kind of scientific effort. But human beings are not 'concepts' or data points and sticking random labels on big groups of people allows the labeller to avoid awkward questions and stop thinking about those people as individuals. It then becomes easy to dehumanise them.

I’m afraid I also think too much make-up, obviously dyed hair ( esp bleached look), trout pout, and dressing too obviously “up for it” ( so high leg slit PLUS low cut top, or slap-me tight leather pants etc) looks chavvy. Some Hollywood celebrities look chavvy so it isn’t just about money. And I disagree the race thing; whatever the origins of the word, in application it has nothing to do with race.

Chav isn't really about class or income though, it's a term to describe a person's behaviour, the way they dress, the way they talk etc
It's like the term snob, that doesn't relate to their class, but their attitude and behaviour. Another term used commonly on here

Wow some of the comments on here are insane. It's only a word I read on MN now, I agree with the poster who said it's due to age.

I agree with you, it's a horrible word, yet people here get up in arms if they're described as a "karen". Double standards.

Sorry no idea why I put “xx”on that post! Swapping between posting and texting and being interrupted by dcs!

This is more what I had understood to be chavvy as well. Spending ( on tacky stuff) in order to feel “ classy” and look down on others. Xx

On the contrary, the underlying skill in most IQ tests is a capacity for pattern recognition. The ability to link concepts or identify similarities is a sign of healthy cognitive function.

I hate it. It's just snobbery. Slapping labels on large groups of people is a sign of intellectual laziness.

I can't believe people are saying people like that don't exist! Come to Bolton'

I could name the places in Bolton, far too polite to do so! Of course they exist, if we had to drive through one to get somewhere else we always made sure the windows were up whatever the weather.

People thinking the term chav = working class are wrong. It's a sub-type, within working or middle class, that would go around with eg. Burberry everything (or other conspicuously designer labels all over themselves), have an expensively leased car (relative to their earnings) and give their kids dubious names such as Shaznay or Gracie-Lou May. They overspent on unnecessary items, with consumption being their main hobby, traipsing round shopping malls with their free time. This being why the term fell out of use: the economic crash of 2008 ended the cheap money that bank rolled everything.
Chavs came across as common, vulgar and tasteless which is certainly not the case with most working class or middle class families. Thank goodness.

The Burberry tartan was popular with the "chav" style - but fake Burberry was what was usually worn

That's what I detested the whole chav thing for, I couldn't wear my genuine Burberry!
Regarding the origins of the word, I only became aware of it when things like Only Way programmes started to pollute the TV, originally the Essex one, and the word was everywhere.

@gagardenmusic you've explained it better than I have the energy for.
The level of ignorance on this thread about the true origin of the word is staggering. Even though people have tried to explain their valid reasons for not thinking it acceptable.
It has it's roots in denigrating a minority ethnic race. Such a shame that more people on here don't have the humility or empathy to say 'I didn't realise that, I'll think more carefully before using it in future.'