Rednecks: The Imperfect Whites

According to Dyer, the characteristics of whites are invisible. All of the other minority groups are characterized based on how they are different from whites. More specifically, the stereotypical white-- middle classed, intelligent, well-mannered, professional, etc. Once you delve into the white culture, you see that there are subgroups of whites. One of these subgroups is viewed similarly to all other non-white groups. That group is the lower class whites, white trash in other words.

White trash, rednecks, hicks, country folk... Call them what you will. They are loud, dirty, unintelligent, undignified, ignorant, ill-mannered, and ill-tempered. The only media they care about is AutoTrader, country radio stations, and Larry the Cable Guy comedy specials. They are a group of whites whose characteristics are not of the societal norm. They are an example of classed bodies. When you hear or read lower class whites it is highly likely that you immediately think of rednecks living in the trailer park. They aren't what normal whites should be. They don't hold middle class office jobs, they don't wear a suit, and they aren't well-spoken or well-educated. Therefore, they are placed in the same boat as low income ethnic groups.

When I look at this image, I find it amusing and good-humored. I'm used to this image. Where I'm from, this is an average Tuesday. I have many friends that look and dress like this (minus the mullet), and I have many friends who don't. There is part of my brain that feels like I am better than this person, and there is part of my brain that feels like this person is one of my good friends.

In my Sociology class, we watched a video on different classes. White trash was one of the classes discussed in the video. They showed clips of these people taking place in "The Redneck Games" which is sort of like the redneck Olympics. It has events such as bobbing for pigs feet and a belly-flopping contest. I was watching the clip and laughing, but when I saw other people laughing at them and talking about how stupid they are, I got defensive. The strange thing is I do not act, dress like, or share many of the same interests of my redneck friends, but I couldn't help but feel like they were my people.

This image has a certain purpose for society. Everyone, no matter what race or class, can look at this and laugh. They can think to themselves, "At least I'm not like them." White trash somewhat serves as the jesters of society. They will always be participating in some sort of wacky antics with a beer in their hand, a mullet, and their flannel shirt with no sleeves to make the rest of society laugh and feel better about themselves.