Redneck: The Cultural Stereotypes Of Working-Class

The term redneck has been used for years to describe the labor intensive work of working class whites residing in rural America. This transformed into a pejorative word to describe southern males who act stereotypically of low class, uneducated, and uncultured. Redneck may be stereotypically synonymous to the terms ‘hillbilly’ and ‘white trash’. The main stereotypes of the label ‘redneck’ include, men who are racist and homophobic in nature, with a huge infatuation with guns, and alcohol and immense patriotism and Christian faith. As this cultural stereotype grew, it became increasingly malicious. This in turn translated country music as lowbrow culture and entertainment as well, causing a widening gap between classes. Rednecks have been …show more content…
Hubbs demonstrates how the relatability of country music is different to both middle-class and working-class audiences. Country music is denigrated by the middle-class due to its low class content, politically incorrect language and morals that do not align with that of upper class standards. The topics of country music pertain to hard manual labor, as well as the daily lives and hardships of working class lives that is strengthened with a resentment of middle class culture. Working class subjectivity includes the norms of the working class personal integrity, honesty, and reliability while middle class focuses on individuality, self promotion and assertiveness. Country music embeds working class walk the walk personalities and implicit communication that directly describes their values. This in turn, allows for country music to be a sense of pride to the working class audiences, and allows them to celebrate their culture instead of allowing high classes to marginalize and stereotype them as low-class rednecks. Middle class music, the majority of music in America focuses on materialistic and higher class values and problems. Rap and pop music mostly contain lyrics pertaining to wealth, how much they can spend, and their luxurious lifestyle, something that the working class aims to stray away from and even condemn. In country music’s attempt to celebrate and validate their own culture, they create a sense of community, and strengthen dignity within their class. This includes promoting their daily habits as well as condemning that of upper class. Their rejection of this culture shines in their lyrics, claiming their preference “ to get high on whiskey and beer with low-placed friends than to succeed in belonging among the champagne-sipping fancy people” (Hubbs 57). As working class habitus grows and molds their preferences, they allow their music to