Mentions in the mass culture of American rednecks make most Russian-speaking people wonder: who are they, how are they different from others, and what place do they occupy in the social life of the United States? Many have already come across representatives of this population in films, video games and songs, but they don’t know where this name came from or what features they have. Nevertheless, for American citizens, the Rednecks seem to be as common a subculture as, for example, Gopniks and goons in the CIS countries. Labels hung on them often become the basis for jokes, humorous shows and memes, often not entirely understood by foreigners. In this article we will understand what these people are and why they are so often mentioned in popular culture.
Who are the Rednecks?
In every culture, one can find slang words describing social groups about which certain stereotypes have developed in society. Such names can not always be found even in extensive dictionaries, but everyone knows their meaning. So, at the mention of the word “gopnik”, each of us represents a young man in a tracksuit from the local market, with a shaved head and a bundle of seeds in his hands. The same words are common in English, but they are quite rare in the CIS countries, it is difficult to understand them without understanding the specifics of the social structure of American society. Meeting such names, we are perplexed for a long time: "Rednecks - who is this?"
This word refers to the white inhabitants of American villages - farmers from the south of the country and regions near the Appalachian mountains. Representatives of this already established subculture can often be found in computer games and cheap comedies.
Where did the name come from?
Originally the name "rednecks" in the USA sounds like redneck. This word was formed of two parts, which literally translate as red-haired. Where did this name come from?
As already mentioned, the rednecks are farmers who provide for themselves through agricultural activity, that is, they spend a lot of time in the fields and gardens. And if their backs and arms are reliably protected by a shirt (naturally plaid), and their heads by a shabby baseball cap, then the neck can only be burned under the hot summer sun, which is why it is always red. In Russian, such a distinctive color is called "tanning tractor."
It is worth noting that in English-speaking countries people who hang such seemingly offensive labels use slang words for self-designation. Therefore, white farmers often call themselves rednecks, while experiencing pride.
Russian alternative
In the countries of the former Soviet Union, the existence of rednecks is out of the question. This social group exists only in the United States of America. Nevertheless, people involved in the agricultural sector are in any country, and therefore it is safe to say that we meet our own rednecks. The CIS is distinguished by a large number of "collective farmers", or "hillbillys", on whom a considerable number of labels are also hung. It is much easier for us to distinguish them, guided by a whole set of stereotypes: rural dialect, red faces, tasteless clothes from the local bazaar. They are always tipsy, rude, women look vulgar, and men - brazenly and sloppy.
Therefore, the shortest way to answer the question "Rednecks - who is this?" - draw a parallel with the "redneck". However, each culture has its own characteristics, so an analogy is not enough to understand what a typical white American farmer looks like.
Appearance
The skin color and the nape of the rednecks have already been mentioned. On top of a sloppy or short haircut, a baseball cap, a hat from popular westerns or a cap, often back to front, or an ordinary scarf are always pulled on. The brightest individuals constantly walk with a spikelet in their mouth. The main attributes of the redneck are a plaid shirt and denim overalls. Nevertheless, it is not worth generalizing - sometimes they put on simple T-shirts, gray t-shirts, and in some cases do not bother to wear extra clothes. Rednecks wear high boots, but in good weather merge with nature, without shoes at all. In the pockets of overalls you can always find a pack of cheap cigarettes and a folding knife. Each normal redneck has a large beer belly. The appearance of women is not particularly different. The stereotypical representative of white farmers does not bother to observe hygiene rules, which makes him not particularly pleasant to smell. To better understand how rednecks look, the photo in the article will help in that.
Stereotypes
External signs are not enough to understand the big picture. In addition to such a set of cliches, it is important to understand how rednecks live. There are even more behavioral stereotypes about them than about appearance. They concern almost all spheres of life, from hobbies to political preferences.
According to prevailing cliches, rednecks are fond of hunting, fishing and mud racing. To do this, they contain trained dogs and always keep a rifle in the closet. Nevertheless, weapons rarely lie idle - villagers use them as soon as possible. Rednecks ride old pickups inherited from their grandfathers, trailers and small trucks. In addition, motorbikes are very popular with redhead farmers.
Rednecks talk in a special slang, often drawing out words and swallowing endings. Each of them is necessarily an ardent sports fan. Naturally, the favorite genre in music is country.
Politics
According to stereotypes, the Rednecks are ardent patriots of the United States, insanely proud that they are Americans. Farmers, as a rule, differ in the right views. Supporters of the traditional way of life, they often oppose immigrants, homosexuals, feminists, and intelligentsia. A lot of gunners are racists, often from them can be expected to attack in the direction of African-Americans. In addition, many villagers are deeply religious people who are not ready to accept new social norms. Therefore, they are opponents of socialists, communists and democrats.
One of the common cliches is the positive attitude of rednecks to confederates. Rumor has it that each of them has a red flag hidden with a blue diagonal cross. At the moment, many conservative farmers support the policy of Donald Trump.
Hillbilly
This social group is a conditional subspecies of the redneck that fits in all of the above labels, only doubled. In the original, Hillbilly is translated as "Billy from the Hills." This expression can be compared with something like Vasya from the village. Such people come from a deep village, not distinguished for their literacy and high level of development. The stereotypical inhabitants of the village are such vivid individuals that they are often cited as an example, answering the question: “Rednecks - who is this?”
The name explains the reason why Hillbilly are considered savages. The hills are called the Appalachian region, in which, unlike the area where the rest of the rednecks live, agriculture is much less developed. Stereotypical Hillbilly is a hopeless drunkard. He walks in a straw hat, shirtless, in overalls only, holding a spikelet in his mouth.
The big problem among Hillbilly is ignorance. For this purpose, special educational programs and educational programs have been held in the Appalachian region since the time of Bush, but this did not change the situation much.
Kajuns
This social group is also a variety of rednecks, however, in some aspects it differs greatly from them. Kajuns live in Akadian - a region of southern Louisiana. These are the marginalized inhabitants of the former French colonies, which are very different from the patriotic rednecks who are proud to be Americans. Kajuns are also not distinguished by their education and culture, but this is justified by their hostile attitude towards public policy and American institutions. They talk in their jargon, which is extremely difficult to understand. It mixes the expressions of English and French. Kajuns perceive themselves as a separate ethnic group, and therefore sacredly protect their traditions, cuisine and culture. Also, unlike stereotypical rednecks, they are quite tolerant of African-Americans, as they previously even had a common language.
Jargon
The real American rednecks are barely understandable for an ordinary person, and especially a foreigner, talk. Their vocabulary is well understood by fellow villagers, however, many of the words they use are not even listed in the English-Russian dictionary. They are simple, vulgar and rude. Below is a table with some popular catchwords from redneck jargon.
|
britches |
pants |
skedaddle |
run away |
|
clod-hopper |
farmer high boots |
snug as a bug |
conveniently |
|
gussied up |
washed and well-dressed |
sugar |
love |
|
high cotton |
successful and rich |
tater |
potato |
|
honky-tonk |
a bar where country plays |
useless as tits on a bull |
completely useless |
|
knee-high to a grasshopper |
Very young |
varmint |
wild animal |
|
rubber-neck |
drive slowly so you can see the accident |
yapper |
mouth |
