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?

Yeah I agree. More people on here tend to get upset if someone mocks something more ‘middle-class’- I’ve seen posters accused of ‘reverse snobbery’.

@vincettenoir what is the meaning?
Because going by this thread no one knows and has yet to actually give a answer.

Deservedly so.

Chav is a representation of the working class, utilised.
"Chav" is used to represent those working class with social mobility.
"Acting chavvy" is used to represent those middle and upper class that other people decide "deserve" the slur because they act outside what are deemed to be their particular class distinctions.

It’s a term used to denigrate poor people with social problems and a poor level of education.

Depends. The word has its time and place. If someone has brash inappropriate behaviour, then they are chav. Describing holiday as chav is different, I wouldn't...

I’ve called him a chav several times. Deadbeat dads are chavs

Christ, what a load of shite some of these comments are.
I grew up firstly in a one bedroom flat with a shared lav on the landing, and then on a notorious south London council estate.
We were the definition of poor working class, now I work in IT, so not sure what that means with regard to class. My mates are mostly tradesmen, we all live a similar relatively comfortable lifestyle.
We all use the term 'chav' - it has nothing to do with class and everything to do with lazy scrounging low-level criminal hoodie wearing scumbags.

@vincettenoir see that's not what I have always believed it meant.
I always believed it was a phrase to describe people who wore fake designer clothes and lots of "bling" (I remember Burberry getting annoyed their designs were being associated with the phrase).
Nothing to do with social problems or education.
🤔

It amuses me when posters have such a lack of self-awareness that they criticise people for judging others, yet in that very criticism they shout their own judgemental attitude from the rooftops.
So in your view no one should use the word chav, but it's fine for you to call people snobs and decide they're not nice people? Maximum hypocrisy there...

Needmorelego · Today 17:25
what is the meaning?
Because going by this thread no one knows and has yet to actually give a answer.

I have given an answer, and so have several others.
Chavvy is the Romany word for child. Before 2010 Romanies and Gypsies were not protected as an ethnic minority - and the term Chavvy meant that you were like a Gypsy/ Romany, it was used in a derogative way, as an insult. You could be as racist as you like, with no come back.
I understand that many posters are not old enough to realise this, but consider yourselves told - it is a racist slur. Applying it to bad behaviour is racist.

HTH is a cheap attempt at shutting down a discussion. What you said doesn't help at all. Maybe you should unpack why you are so defensive about my question.

Of course I did! She was quoting some of her friends. Thanks for the parenting advice though!

I've always thought it referred to those who had new relative wealth and felt the need to have large designer labels on things, hang out at set clubs to be seen etc. think it was Burberry scarves and caps that initially became the popular fashion in such circles.

What I haven't ever understood it to mean was working class more generally.

Here on Mumsnet it's definitely being used in a snobby derogatory manner eg "we usually book villas or small family owned hotels, would Egypt ai be chavvy, we don't do entertainment". The irony is the same people desperately not wanting to mix with said chavs are probably insecure as to where they are in society - people who are don't care.

I had a great time on holiday dancing to the entertainment, drinking the ai drinks etc and met some interesting people including a hereditary peer! I quite like an ai in Spain my myself, villas and dining out just the 2 of you is no fun night after night! Now I'm off down the pub (btw for the record according to our social class category we are A or Elite)

I do occasionally use the word. But I use it in relation to how the person presents themselves i.e. clothes, attitude, priorities (all of which are within their control) rather than their class (which isn't).

Fairly well-to-do people can be "a bit chavvy" imo.

It is derogatory, I accept that. But a lot of our best descriptive language is. Cock lodgers, for example.

It doesn't apply to me and I find it offensive. Everything you have written is offensive. Flabby skin and being size 20?

So effectively poor people whose clothes you consider to be poor taste. Oh, that’s not offensive at all.

I grew up working class and I really don’t like the word.

Cambridge dictionary definition of chav:

an insulting word for someone, usually a young person, whose way of dressing, speaking, and behaving is thought to show their lack of education and low social class.

Can we stop pretending the word is "nothing to do with class" now?

🤣

So right!

🙄

Stop looking for reasons to be offended. Nothing wrong with using chav.

But you didn't use the term chav for him. You state his behaviour is chavvy, not that he is a chav.

Boris Johnson behaviour is chavvy?
His behaviour was chav-like?
He's being chavvy / acting that way?

So is he a chav then?
Or acting like one?
What's the difference?
Class? Money? Power? Influence?

Chav is a particular representation of the working class, utilised.

@vincettenoir I have no problem if people want to wear those clothes - I was saying that's what I always assumed the meaning to be.
I don't care what people wear.
And wearing "fake" designer doesn't mean someone is poor.
@gardenmusic yes I understand that's generally considered to be the origin but it seems not what the word is mostly used for these days.
People say it - but without knowing what the origin and are using it to mean different things.
It's a horrible word - in the way it is mostly used.

Calling people chavs because they are overweight and have flabby skin is ok by you?