I have a 21-year-old cousin that I'm close with, who moved from Staten Island, NY to Liverpool when she was 5. She picked me up at the airport, and the first thing she said to me was "Good god, you look like a chav." When I asked her if she meant my physical features or the way I was dressed, she said it was the way I was dressed. I remember I had a ponytail (like my avatar), big silver hoop earrings, and a Juicy sweatsuit (I know, they're "out", but it was the comfiest thing I could wear on an airplane). I had Converse All-Star shoes, Burberry luggage, and not too much makeup. I asked her to explain, and she was like, "You should probably wear something else, some people judge a lot." What the hell is a chav? Doesn't that mean "sexist"? Like "Chavinistic pig"? And why is it bad if I look l ike one?
2007-01-21 09:12:24 · 20 answers · asked by -:- Masha -:- 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
lol whaaat?? damn sure that's rude of her! I'm nothing like that...lol...no, no, that was just airplane fashion... sheesh that's harsh no wonder i got so many weird looks on my first day there. once I wore 'nicer' clothes the next day, it was fine.
2007-01-21 09:56:32 · update #1
It's someone from lower classes trying to dress like they have money but failing to convince anyone as they wear specific clothing that indicates their status - allegedly. It's an insult honey and isn't a very nice thing to say to your cousin. Ignore her, she was probably just jealous of you x x x
2007-01-21 09:23:24 · answer #1 · answered by katieplatie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Uh-oh...that's definitely not a good thing to be called!
Chavs usually come from poorer neighbourhoods, are considered less cultured, socially ignorant and 'common'.
The girls usually have their hair tied back and slicked down, and quite often wear hoop earrings. The boys almost always wear baseball caps, sweat suits/track suits are the standard chav uniform.
Anything Burberry is coveted by chavs..and as a result is pretty well shunned by anybody with decent taste.
Oh and too much jewellry is a must for any self-respecting chav...multiple bulky gold rings and necklaces etc etc
But if you're happy the way you are then don't change...just because you're chav on the outside, doesn't mean you have to be chav on the inside.
Chav is a state of mind!!
(for god's sake rise above it)
2007-01-21 09:35:40 · answer #2 · answered by Sight 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh definitely chavvy. I'm from TN, live in CT, and the people here DO look like that. Staten Island women's general fashion would translate to chav over there. As for what it is: It's a subculture in England that is associated with crime and people being on the dole (welfare.) A great site that defines what one looks like is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav
You could consider it the British equivalent of "ghetto."
She really should have told you what it was though. People there will judge you VERY harshly for things like that. She didn't want anyone treating you badly, but she could have at least defined it for you.
2007-01-21 09:17:51 · answer #3 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A chav stands for council house vermin, and it means that you look like a poor single mother from a dodgy area in england. It is not a good thing, but if you were only wearing it on the plane, relax. I would say though, for future reference, NEVER wear big hoop earrings when you have a ponytail in, it's just WRONG!!!
2007-01-21 09:19:21 · answer #4 · answered by CHARISMA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chavs are people who are viewed as the underclass in Britain. They are steriotyped as ignorant, petty criminals - who never studied at school, have perhaps served time, are unlikely to have a job and are frequently teenage parents. These chavs are also steriotyped as wearing sports clothes and other man-made fabrics, large earrings, 'croydon facelifts' (i.e. very tight ponytails), bling and burberry. Essentially they're pretty much the same as white trash. Do you really want to look like that?
2007-01-21 09:20:03 · answer #5 · answered by Mordent 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
How very rude of her. This is a cultural term peculiar to the UK to describe the poorer under educated classes. Trailer trash would be a similar term in the USA or knackers in Ireland. It dosent matter what you wear as long as you are clean and tidy and covered appropiately for the time of day ect. I think your cousin might be identified more closely to the "chav" class than yourself!
2007-01-21 09:28:15 · answer #6 · answered by boomedly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Didn't you already ask this question?
Yes it is bad. Its a name in the UK used for people that live in council estates, dress and act a certain way. They are generally considered to have no respect for society, as well as being considered ignorant or unintelligent. Its a growing underclass in Britain. Look at the sites below for information.
2007-01-21 09:22:01 · answer #7 · answered by Lisa G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
big hooped earings are chavvy dont know about the juicy sweatsuit as i dont know who juicy are but the chavs around my town wear sweatsuits and burberry caps, i wear all star converse shoes until chavs started wearing them so now i dont all stars are becoming a chav item i think so yes bye the sounds of it you are a chav
2007-01-21 09:23:03 · answer #8 · answered by xxDiStUrBeDxx 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
big hoop earrings? tracksuit? burberry? yep you sound like a chav. not a good look. but keep the converse.
and no it's nothing to do with chauvenists.
2007-01-21 09:32:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
she is being stuck up with you, dont change your style for any and as for a ponytail with hooped earigs being wrong joanne m that can look great look at j-lo she is probably a sterio type girl for a chav in ammerica (jenny from the block) dont worry hun its a word that stuck up toffee nose's use for normal real proud of it people.
2007-01-21 09:29:28 · answer #10 · answered by lu-ann 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋