Is it Racism?

I thought I'd get the ball rolling, although this will probably not make much sense to non-brits.

This concerns Chavs (a name for a type of townie) and silicone wristbands (originally for charity, and now something of a fashion statement.)

A 6th-former at my school has started making lime green bands etched with the motto 'anti-chav ' off a website and is selling them in school. Several of my friends have bought them, but yesterday in assembly we were told they were banned.
The teachers argue that it is discrimination against a particular group of people and is therefore unfair. The money for the band is also not going towards a charity, it is just used for whatever the 6th former and their friends wish. (An Ipod)
They say that it particuarly disgusts them when a student wears it on the same arm as an anti racist band, as they feel that it is snobbish, and in fact social racism.
My friends argue that being 'anti-chav' is being anti-violence and against anti-social behaviour. They also say that if the teachers had been shouted at by chavs on the way home, and had the same abuse as they did, they'd be wanting one to.
They also say that there are band you can buy in shops with things like 'Friendship' written on them, which have nothing to do with charity and people are wearing them, and the money is going to nowhere but the shop, so the bands not being for charity is irrelevant.
They say that it helps raise awareness.

So I throw it out to you members of the board.
Was my school right to ban the wristbands?

[Duchessa]

interesting! Hmmm, I'm not entirely sure...

On the one hand i am not a great fan of chavs (too often have they chucked mud and rocks at my coach one of the boys at next door's skool even got knifed a couple of years ago!) However, I think that if this is not a form of charity but just a way of setting themselves above chavs then i think it wasn't exactly a good bracelet to be wearing.

Hmmm.....any other takers?
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

I personally agree with my schools descion, although I am getting a lot of stick from all of my friends, as I am the only person in a group of about 20 who does.

Firstly, its pretentious and superficial the way they're trying to cash in on what was originaly charity's way of raising money.
They're taking a nice charitable venture and turning it into something prejudiced and fake.
I hate all the fake charity bands - I've bought a couple of genuine ones for causes I believe in, and though I don't wear them (they're annoying and make your skin red) I wanted to contribute to the charity, as oppose to just jump onto some trend bandwagon.

Secondly, just because someone looks like a Chav, does not mean they are violent and cause anti social behaviour. That's blatant, prejudiced, stereotyping. And if you say that being a chav isn't an image, it's a person who is guilty of anti social behaviour, then you have to be careful when and to whom you say it. It's a fairly large accusation to throw around without proof. How can you say just because a person likes to drive his car fast, that he likes to attack old women?

They might be a different group of people but if I went around with a band saying "All blacks should burn" or "All gays are dirty" I would get so much abuse for it, so why is it acceptable to judge and discriminate against another group of people just because they are some what chavish?

I have friends who are Chavs, who are also (shock, horror) decent people. I have friends who are grebs/goths/emo kids/moshers and they are too. Yeah, some chavs can be bastards but so can anyone no matter whether they're wearing a trackie covered in Burberry or head-to-toe black.

And as for raising awareness... I've yet to see what awareness they raise.
Most people who consider themselves 'Chavs' will be pleased by the notority they recieve.
Other people who don't consider themselves Chavs, are unlikley to be detered by them as they don't relate them to themselves.
Moreover, they completely contradict the official Anti Bullying bands and the Stop Racism bands. And it worries me when I see people so passionate about racism, yet so completely blind to their own prejudiced.

It's similar to Miss Gates' attitude in 'To kill a Mockingbird'. When it comes to the subject of Hitler persecuting the Jews, she is passionate in their defence, but is blind to her own hatred of blacks which is just as biased. She says to her class,

‘“That’s the difference between America and Germany. We are a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship. Dictator-ship. Over here were don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. Pre-ju-dice,”

My friends don't think that they're being racist. According to one of my closest friends;

'Sweety, racism is disgrimination against someone because of they're colour skin etc. Thats sick and wrong.'

So why is it different because they live in lower class town, wear sports gear, have more piercings and bleach their hair?

[Duchessa]

mmm, yes, and treating chavs as if they are inferior to us will only increase resntment and emnity and so there will be a greater gulf between us. As for whether chavs are inherently more violent or whatever, i think that as basically the only chavs i have met were treying to shove me off the pavement into the road, i am not really disposed to give a well-rounded opinion on this. However, i am of the opinion that richer kids can be just as bad as chavs, if not worse because they have more money to blow on antisocial behaviour!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

p.s. to kill a mockingbird = on eof the best books ever!!!!!

[artemis]

OK well I'm not entirely sure what a Chav is not being British or anything but Ive got a pretty basic idea and i really don't see how its a bad thing, not that it matters because even if it is a bad thing people at your school don't have the right to make bracelets like that because it is racism and thats like so not even cool. people need to realize racism isn't about your skin color its judging a certain group of people in a bad way. and if these chavs have hurt you any way then i am sorry but the students buying those bracelets are only giving them the attention they want and doing it a bad way too by lowering themselves to that level. and i also agree with you Anni about the charity bracelet thing. they were like the biggest fad ever a week ago and i don't think even half of the kids at my school who had them even knew what charity they were "supporting".*grrr* sorry about that I'm a little worked up right now.

[asdf]

You school was right. they should ban them, they're racist...Even if they're a fad or anything, it's not right. It's totally racists...

[beamer]

You school was right. I've never heard of chav's before this but i'll do my best to understand lol. It is racism, it's judging a group of people, whom all chav's might not be bad. Yeah, if you're going to get a bracelet like that, get it for a charity, i got 3 for charity and that's only because i truly supported teh charity...Grr it makes me so mad when people think it's okay to do something like that, it is completely racist

[leriamontenegro]

I agree with your school. i think it's somewhat racist. i would be really mad if someone at my school started wearing anti jock or anti prep or anti punk bracelets. and the money isn't going to a charity so what's the point. my school has some pretty wacky rules like we are not allowed to wear anything that has spikes including rubber spikes and i don't see how that is a problem but with those bracelets it's racism. i mean those people do sound kind mean but still i agree with your school

[Duchessa_Arianna]

I don't personally like chavs (i have my reasons) but I think that your school was right to ban the wrist bands. They are just a way for that six former to make money, and frankly I bet half of the people who bought them don't really hate chavs all that much, or have a good enough reason too.

Also, I understand what you were saying about the wristbands not being made for charity sometimes, and there are a *lot* of fake ones out there...which actually I do not like, because they are made originally for charity, not for people to start a trend out of. (I have a LiveStrong one and Breast Cancer one myself)

I would say, it is sort of like discrimination. But, discrimination could be taking place all the time. Just look at the different groups of people, emos, chavs, goths, moshers... I know a few people who hate all of them. But why? I mean if they have a valid reason then fine... but half of the people just hate them, because others do at school.