Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class

Verso, 2012. 2nd Edition . Soft cover. Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Updated with new preface.An unmarked and tight copy. In modern Britain, the working class has become an object of fear and ridicule. From Little Britain s Vicky Pollard to the demonization of Jade Goody, media and politicians alike dismiss as feckless, criminalized and ignorant a vast, underprivileged swathe of society whose members have become stereotyped by one, hate-filled word: chavs. In this acclaimed investigation, Owen Jones explores how the working class has gone from `salt of the earth` to `scum of the earth.` Exposing the ignorance and prejudice at the heart of the chav caricature, he portrays a far more complex reality. The chav stereotype, he argues, is used by governments as a convenient figleaf to avoid genuine engagement with social and economic problems and to justify widening inequality. Based on a wealth of original research, Chavs is a damning indictment of the media and political establishment and an illuminating, disturbing portrait of inequality and class hatred in modern Britain. This updated edition includes a new chapter exploring the causes and consequences of the UK riots in the summer of 2010.