Where did the stereotype 'Redneck' come from?

Question

And what does it actually mean?

Answer 1

"Redneck" originally referred to poor, white tenet farmers who spent all day bent over in the sun harvesting their crops. This caused the back of their necks to burn, hence the term "red neck". At the moment, it refers to poorer White families who live in the American South and participate in a variety of stereotypical activities including hunting, messing with cars, listening to country music and getting drunk. Please note that this is the stereotypical image, and does not necessarily apply to all members of this group, or even those who identify themselves with this group. In general, the rest of the populace views this group as being unintelligent, an impression not helped by their proud use of nonstandard English and thick, mostly cultivated, accents. In addition, members of this group tend to view education as 'a joke' and do not search for professional development and growth.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Redneck has two general uses: first, as a pejorative used by outsiders, and, second, as a term used by members within that group. To outsiders, it is generally a term for those of Southern or Appalachian rural poor backgrounds — or more loosely, rural poor to working-class people of rural extraction. (Appalachia also includes large parts of Pennsylvania, New York and other states.) Within that group, however, it is used to describe the more downscale members. Rednecks span from the poor to the working class.

Generally, there is a continuum from the stereotypical redneck (a derisive term) to the country person; yet there are differences. Rednecks typically are more libertine, especially in their personal lives, than other country brethren who tend towards social conservatism. In contrast to country people, stereotypical rednecks tend not to attend church, or do so infrequently. They also tend to use alcohol and gamble more than their church-going neighbors. Further, "politically apathetic" may describe some members of this group. Until the late 1970s they tended toward populism and were solidly behind the Democratic party, but have supported Republicans since the Carter presidency. [11] They are less homogeneous than the country people and other Southern whites. Many Southern celebrities like Jeff Foxworthy and Lee Roy Mercer embrace the redneck label. It is used both as a term of pride and as a derogatory epithet, sometimes to paint country people and/or their lifestyle as being lower class.

Answer 3

Redneck, in modern usage, predominantly refers to a particular stereotype of people who may be found in many regions of the United States or Canada. ...

Answer 4

Overseers in the slave south and later used to be white and country. Normally they were mounted on horses and spent hours in the sun, overseeing their "help" Their white necks got sunburned turning them "red"....Hence the term "redneck with all that implies

Answer 5

redneck is a slang word used for people in the south, like hillbilly, they dont have to be poor.

Answer 6

I think it is from the fact that people who work in the fields get sunburned necks.

Answer 7

Yes.

Answer 8

Could be literal, I dunno.