I found the article ‘Consuming “Trash”: Representations of Poor Whites in U.S. Popular Culture’ particularly interesting. The article defiantly made me think. When I hear the term ‘white trash’ sadly, I do think of lazy, dirty, white people that live in trailer parks. I think society has conditioned us to think this way. I think if you asked anyone on the street to describe ‘white trash’ that’s the exact description you will get for an answer. It was interesting that the author brought up the fact that ‘white trash’ may be a racial slur towards white people, but it does re-inscribe the idea of ‘normal’ whiteness at the same time. No matter the color of the persons skin if they do not act the way we want them to we give them a label. If society doesn’t like the way you look, you aren’t seen as ‘white’ but rather ‘white trash’ or ‘hillbilly.’ The author used Britney Spears as an example and I think she could be the poster child for this. She had the world at her hands and as soon we she slipped up she was no longer on top. People called her ‘white trash.’ She obviously hasn’t made the best decisions but should we have been so quick to judge? Does society always judge to quickly? Are these judgments fair? I think the idea of ‘whiteness’ is a little old-fashioned. We need to move on from the idea that white is the best color. The world is changing and we need to too.
