Why are people called 'white trash', or 'trash' because they live in mobile homes?

Answer 1

It's not exactly because they live in mobile homes. But a stereotype of the typical person who lives in a mobile home.

Is that fair? no.
But I guess stereotypes rarely are.

Answer 2

The name trash or specifically Trailer trash comes from the popular view that most mobile home owners reside in low rent park with few if any stadards. These ares degrade quickly and are a draw for a populace of lower education and low paying jobs. The economic "temperature" of these areas is something akin to a ghetto mentality. It becomes hard for the owners to justify maintaining the looks of their home and lot when their neighbors do not do the same.
It truly is a case of 1 or 2 bad apples spoiling the bunch.

However, because this image is so prevalent in modern society the names trash, white trash and trailer trash have been applied to large groups of seemingly related people. For example, thoise who have purchased a home to live in the country are sometimes lumped in with the rest, even though often tehse are well educated and sometimes wealthy people. It has also started to be applied to owners of modular homes, as tehse appear to have sprung directly from their manufactured roots.

In short it is a term of ignorance, shared by ignorent people to make themselves feel better than other ignorant people. Those who know, those who understand that the house does noty make the man but quite the reverse, simply appreciate each person for who they are and what they have accomplished.

Answer 3

Interesting question...

I personally think that this is a good example of simplistic thinking, specifically stereotyping.

Stereotypes may sometimes have some truth to them (a correlation, you could say, between two things) but it's always bad, I think, to use a generalization like this with any individual (or even to publicly speak the stereotypical point of view). You only have to be on the receiving end of this for a moment to see why.

I think people see those who live in mobile homes as losers because they can't afford a real house but there could be many reasons for living in a mobile home.

Myself, for example, I'd rather rent an apartment then own a house, and if the mobile homes were in many central locations, I'd probably live in one rather than in a house. I like the simplicity and freedom of renting and a smaller house (easier to clean, cheaper to maintain, better for the environment) that can be moved is a huge advantage the way I see it. That doesn't mean though that I think people who live in owned houses are trash or stupid.

Bottom line: Using stereotypes, you can't make any more than vague guesses about individuals and even these guesses should be kept to yourself.

Answer 4

Living in a mobile home DOES NOT make you white trash. (and no, I don't live in a mobile home, nor have I ever) White trash people are the trash of society. You can be rich and still be white trash. I consider extreme racists trash for example. People just judge way too much by material possessions.

Answer 5

I've used the term "white trash" many times, and I have also known several people during my lifetime who still live in mobile homes or "trailer parks." I have not, however, used the term to describe those people b/c they were pleasant, funny, smart and hard working.

The people who are "white trash" are loud, obnoxious, stupid and otherwise lack any level of "classiness." This group of people have no clue about how to act in public. They could all the money in the world and they would still be trash. "Trash" doesn't discriminate, either - any person of any background can be "trashy." Trust me, I've met more than my fair share of rich people who dismiss others with quick and harsh judgment, are rude and otherwise unpleasant.

Answer 6

I live in Georgia and we have real white trash here. I don't mean to offend anyone. Living in mobile homes does not make someone white trash, their actions do. I consider white trash people who dont take care of themselves, don't do anything to try to better themselves so they live off of welfare and try to have as many kids as they can to get more moeny for welfare. Honestly, most of them have no teeth, or their teeth are falling out, and frankly, most smell bad. I used to live in New York and trust me when I say that just because you live in a trailor, not all people will call you white trash. If they do, they are stuck up jerks so who cares what they think anyway. What makes someone white trash, is their actions, not the home they live in.

Answer 7

Because mobile homes are cheap to live in, and people automatically assume that if you don't have money you're trash. I am not ashamed to say I lived in a mobile home when I was a single mother. My husband had left me for another woman, I was working, and it was a roof over my child's head. I now live in a nice little house and am doing quite well for myself. Anyone who refers to someone as "white trash" because they are living within their means is a hypocrite. We all have budgets, some aren't fortunate to have as broad a budget as others.

Answer 8

Because trailer living has usually been limited to those who don't have a steady, adequate income. The people who live in trailers usually rent them. It's a very (pardon the pun) mobile population. Most trailer parks are shabby, the trailers are unkempt, the people are not always clean. They drink, they get laid off often, they argue.

Because it's a "redneck" kind of living, the owners/managers don't rent to the other demographic groups...hence white trash.

There are mobile home parks, full of retirees, that are attractive. The homes are large and well taken care of. There is landscaping instead of a beat up old car up on blocks.

Answer 9

Mobile homes and mobile home parks are often associated with people of a lower socio-economic level. Mobile homes were generally poorly constructed, cheap, and a person could hook the mobile home to a truck and relocate relatively easily. "White trash" was the name generally used for people who lived in mobile homes. Those people were perceived as being uneducated, lazy, and poor.

Answer 10

Well, I didn't know they were. But a mobile home is cheaper than a regular house, and I suppose some people think if you don't spend a huge amount of money for your home (regular houses are well over half a million around here!), you must be trash. Ignore them; snobbery is just another unpleasant bigotry that some people have. Their opinion is not worth anything.

Answer 11

You do not need to live in a trailer to be white trash.
I have lived in a trailer and do not think of myself as white trash, but I was happy the day I was able to move out.

ATTENTION EVERYONE see the "Check Spelling" over the right corner of the answer block. Use it. Maybe you'll appear less like white trash yourselves.