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

[enternow99]

I find the use of chav on Mumsnet shocking. Is this name chavvy? Is this holiday destination chavvy? Is this outfit chavvy? Chavs moved in next door (I'm a leaseholder, they rent!!!!)

I understand its snobbiness but isn't it a bit horrible?

And pneumatic breasts of silicon.

Don't think so. If you skim through the answers here there are at least three separate ideas as to the source of the word.

@Gingerdancedbackwards "see previous posts" to you too 🙄
All through this thread people are using the word in different ways and have different ideas of the origins.

She described a sub set of people who lived in social housing whose antisocial behaviour made everyone else's lives a misery. She did not say all people who live on council estates are chavs, merely implied there is a very strong correlation between the two.

It’s actually kind of typical of chavs to get all tetchy about the term chavs.

You don’t get toffs coming on whinging about being called toff. It’s a shoulder shrug and get on with it.

To me there’s a sort of assertive defiance involved in chavness. They don’t want to exist quietly without affecting others.

@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.'

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.'

This is what shocked me the most about this!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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'.

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.

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.