Thursday, October 2, 2008
Eastern KY WASPS?
I have become increasingly aware of how popular W.A.S.P. gear is in the youth culture. WASP is an acronym standing for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. This term has been a sociological synonym for the elitist class of white CEO's in the nature of American royalty (in the Kennedy essence). Their attitude and culture has become affiliated with a standard code of dress and activity as any sociological sect would. A specific type of pricey designer clothes the everyday WASP. Ralph Lauren seems to be the regent expert on modern WASP fashion, or at least here at Morehead State. Passing Eastern Kentuckians wearing boating shoes with pink polo shirts tucked into their khaki's is quite an instance of oddness in a state that prides itself on such rurality and working class fashion (i.e. John Deere) fashion. The opposite of such working class fashion appears to be the Ralph Lauren look. No practical use except to show off an attitude of upper-class sporting (i.e. sailing, polo) can be found in WASP fashion. This is in deep contrast of the working boots, and farming apparel so common to this area. Kentuckians that wish to break away from the tradition of working class Kentucky, turn to the culture of upper class New England and its aristocratic nature. Boys in Morehead are emulating boys in Nantucket. One can not convince me that cultural attachments are not made to fashion. One can assume many cultural things about my own appearance. My fashion represents the groups and ideas I find to best represent me. All of us are part of this group affiliation process. My fashion represents my taste in music, ideas towards social norms, and my leftist ideals. But can the same be said for these KY WASPs? This popularity of WASP gear seems to be a way for Kentuckians to wash away the social stigma that comes along with the working class ideals that shape the culture of the rural "John Deere" fashion. It seems extreme as well. I guess the desire to be on a yacht on the coast of Massachusetts is quite appealing to the youth here. Who wouldn't want to be an aristocratic exploiter of American and foreign labor? Who wouldn't want a non-cultured, silver-spoon up-bringing? I'm just stumped to how old, rich guy fashion has spread here. To those who are surrounded by a culture formed in a largely poor area.
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