The term "white trash" has classist and maybe even racist implications. Why do we still use it? (accuse, Kennedy)
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I'd agree. I would consider the Kardashians, the Palins, the Trumps and the Duggars to all be white trash. I want to add Paula Deen.
I am white so I judge white people more harshly than non whites.
It always seems like whites are the only race to judge themselves by different standards than other races. IMO, white guilt is just a way for timid white folks to gain favor with other races. I am sure you would certainly agree with M L King when he stated that we should not judge a man by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character. I don't believe he added "unless that man is white."
White Trash is more or less a phrase to describe certain sleazy, uneducated, lazy people, it isn't necessaritly racist or classist.
Then why is the word "white" in it? Why not just say someone is "trashy" without the specification of their race? Does use of this term imply that most white people aren't trashy? That most people who aren't white are trashy? The use of the phrase raises more questions about the user than it answers about the person to whom the pejorative is being applied.
Then why is the word "white" in it? Why not just say someone is "trashy" without the specification of their race? Does use of this term imply that most white people aren't trashy? That most people who aren't white are trashy? The use of the phrase raises more questions about the user than it answers about the person to whom the pejorative is being applied.
Sometimes persons just use "trash" especially again in the South.
Using film as an example again in "Driving Miss. Daisy" when Hoke goes to see Boolie to ask for a raise he tells of an offer from a "trashy" relative (or friend of the family, cannot recall) that while paying him more money he didn't want to work for that sort of person. Boolie obviously agrees with the character assessment of the woman because he not only does not call Hoke out on it but gives him the raise.
The word "white" is often used in conjunction with "trash" because better whites already had tons of other words for blacks, Chinese, and other minorities they didn't like.
Unlike say the North the Southern society to much of an extent fashioned itself on European landed aristocracy (mainly British). As such they like across the pond had all sorts of words for lower class persons who behaved in "low" ways.
Southern culture is full of pejoratives that get thrown about that speak to whites of a certain status; nasty, dirty, hillbilly, trash, Yankee and for a while even Irishman or Irish. Watch Designing Women and see how many times Miss. Suzanne Sugarbaker busts out with "hillbilly" and to whom she is referring. She never calls Charlene "white trash" but often early in the series refers to her and her family has "hillbillies" something Charlene even told her parents about, much to Suzanne's shame when they came to visit.
Every country you visit where white Europeans settled there are words to describe "low" whites. From South Africa to South America
It IMHO is always used to describe attitude life style morals and priorities.. I seldom see it in conjunction with "poor" even you added that word later.. but White Trash is white trash.. as they say ....... what do you have when a pig is wearing a ROLEX? A Pig with a Rolex... No money for a dentist or your child support but $2000 for tattoos? Your white trash or black trash or brown trash.. Never mow your yard but time and money to jack your truck 4 feet in the air? White Trash..
Quote:
Originally Posted by homenj
Why do we still use the term "white trash" to describe a poor white person? Why should we call someone "trash" just because they are poor? Why aren't middle class and upper class whites who have unfavorable personality traits considered "white trash" as well? I feel this is not fair as a poor white person can be a person with good morals and decency and still be labeled "white trash" meanwhile an upper class white person who is backstabbing, promiscuous, rude, and just shows no class might not be considered "white trash" or if anything people might say they act like "white trash" but since they aren't poor they are still not considered "white trash" at least by some. In an age of growing tolerance I still don't see why poor whites are considered "trash." It might even be racist since there is no widespread usage of the terms "Hispanic trash" or "black trash", it almost seems like Hispanics and blacks are expected to already be trash. Any thoughts or opinions?
People who use television references in discussions about actual life are white trash.
On a serious note, I once read in an etiquette manual that pointing out to someone that their behavior is vulgar is in itself a vulgar act.
So I guess either we can't call white trash white trash to their faces or we are vulgar ourselves for using a term that points out other people's vulgar behavior. Or both.
Murica tends to get hooked up on Racism, Classism, Ageism, Sexism etc, like they're different topics.
They're not.
The New Phrase which replaces all of the above in polite educated society, is
Discrimination.
That is, one group of (whoever) discriminating against another group of (whoever). It happens all the time, is part of human nature that needs to be acknowledged then actively worked against like the plague.
These days, the word Racist itself is considered, well, racist.
And most of us have experienced discrimination at some point at some level, and know how unpleasant it feels.
It is a human failing we ALL have to strive against to live in our increasingly small world.
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