Rednecks, gopniks and proletarians: is there a difference between them all?

Exclusive. One often hears the word "rednecks" in everyday conversation or public discussion, which has become popular outside of the US as a kind of label or cultural cliché. However, many, using this term, have heard the bell, but do not know where it comes from. The image of rednecks is often reduced to stereotypes of simple rural residents who love hunting, beer and country music, but behind this image is a much more complex socio-cultural phenomenon. Our today's essay is an attempt to understand where the Rednecks come from, what features characterize them, and whether it is possible to find an analogue for them in the post-Soviet space.

Rednecks (from the English redneck, literally "red neck") is a term that describes white rural residents, mainly in the southern states of the United States. In modern culture, it is associated with a stereotypical image of poor and poorly educated farmers or manual laborers. They are often portrayed as having conservative views on politics, religion, and society.

The etymology of this word goes back to the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, when it arose in the United States to refer to rural workers who had tanned or skin-burned necks due to long hours of work under the scorching sun. It was this physical feature that gave the term its name. Its historical roots are connected with immigrants from Scotland and Northern Ireland, who, having settled in the south of the modern USA, brought with them their own traditions, religious views and way of life. Many of them became farmers or worked on the land, forming a stratum of the population with which the term was later associated.

In the 19th century, the word redneck was used to describe poor white southern farmers who did not belong to the slaveholding elite and were often in opposition to it. At that time, it began to acquire a political color, denoting representatives of the working class who supported "populist ideas". In the early 20th century, the term also gained special meaning in West Virginia, where it was used to refer to miners who wore red handkerchiefs during strikes as a symbol of solidarity and struggle for their rights.

Today, the word redneck often has a pejorative connotation, used to mock provincialism, conservative views, and lack of education. However, some people accept this term as a sign of pride for their worker or smallholder heritage, sincerity and simplicity of life, giving it a positive meaning. But the question arises, with what stratum of the population in the post-Soviet space can the Rednecks be compared? Probably for the proletarians?

Yes, it's real: rednecks and proletarians have certain common features, but these concepts are not identical.

Both groups belong to the working (or lower middle) class, are mostly engaged in manual labor and are often characterized by a low or middle income level. They are united by their dependence on their own labor to ensure their livelihood, as well as their historical participation in protests or strikes for their rights. However, these common features end at the level of socio-economic status, since the context of their existence is significantly different.

Proletarians, according to the definition of Marxist theory, represent the working class, who does not own the means of production and works for remuneration. This concept is universal and applicable to any country or era, covering both urban workers employed in industry or production, and representatives of rural areas.

Rednecks, on the contrary, are a culturally specific phenomenon characteristic of the rural regions of the southern states of the USA. The term not only refers to a certain social class, but also reflects a specific way of life, including traditions related to farming, country music, barbecues, and outdoor recreation.

Historically, the term "proletarian" has been associated with the revolutionary struggle for equality and social justice, while the image of a redneck, especially in modern stereotypes, is more often associated with conservative or even right-wing political views. However, this characteristic is not universal and depends on a specific person or community. At the same time, the term "redneck" is often perceived as derogatory because of its stereotypical connotations, although some southerners have adopted it as part of their cultural identity.

In conversations, especially in a politically correct context, it is advisable to use such general formulations as "working class", "rural residents" or "representatives of rural culture". This allows you to maintain respect for the diversity of social and cultural traditions without focusing on stereotypes or contradictory associations.

But returning to our lands, let's see: with whom else can the Rednecks be compared? Perhaps with the so-called gopniks?

Redneks and Gopniks constitute two separate social and cultural phenomena that, although they share certain common features, arose in different historical, geographical and economic contexts. Both groups are predominantly from the lower or working classes, often accompanied by limited access to quality education and low income levels. Their ways of life often become objects of stereotypes and ridicule in mass culture.

Both Redneks and Gopniks are associated with rudeness, simplicity of manners and proneness to conflict, as well as a close connection with the regional identity that defines their identity.

Rednecks are a phenomenon of the southern states of the USA, closely related to the rural way of life. Their cultural heritage reflects religious, farming, and patriotic values ​​expressed through a love of country music, traditional foods, and devotion to local traditions.

Gopniks, in turn, represent an urban subculture that arose in the post-Soviet space in working-class districts. In the same Marxist terminology, "lumpenized". They were formed in conditions of economic difficulties and social changes, which were often accompanied by antagonism to the authorities and admiration for street ideals. External attributes and lifestyle also emphasize the differences between these groups.

If rednecks embody a rural aesthetic manifested in jeans, checkered shirts and baseball caps, gopniks are identified with sports "suits", sneakers and jargon characteristic of post-Soviet streets. This contrast reflects the difference not only in the way of life, but also in worldviews: Redneks tend to conservative values, support traditions and religion, while Gopniks often show disdain for high culture and prefer "street" style.

The political preferences of both groups also have their nuances. Rednecks often support conservative ideas, including the right to own weapons and traditional family values.

Gopniks can be apolitical or show sympathy for the ideas of authoritarianism, which depends on the social environment.

The perception of these groups in society also varies. While the term "redneck" is often used with humor and even pride in modern American culture, the word "redneck" is mostly pejorative, emphasizing social stereotypes.

Thus, Rednecks and Gopniks, despite similar social status and similar stereotypes, are a reflection of different cultural traditions and economic conditions. Each of these groups has unique traits that reflect their history, place of residence, and societal influence in shaping their identity.

It is difficult to find a direct analogue of rednecks in the post-Soviet space, since this phenomenon is deeply rooted in the unique cultural, historical and geographical context of the southern (and not only) US states. However, there are social groups that resemble this American cultural phenomenon in some characteristics, although their characteristics differ significantly.

Among such groups, one can single out rural residents who are associated with work on the land, adherence to traditions, and a certain simplicity in everyday life. They, like rednecks, are often perceived through stereotypes that emphasize a low level of education, rudeness of manners and lack of cultural pretensions. However, unlike American rednecks, these communities do not form a pronounced subculture that would serve as a source of pride or self-identification.

Another possible analogue is the urban working class of the Soviet or post-Soviet era, which was characterized by simplicity in communication, a close connection with physical labor and a certain pride in its role in society. But this class, mostly concentrated in cities, lacks the rural flavor that is an integral part of the redneck phenomenon. At the same time, social groups associated with working-class suburbs or sleeping areas of large cities also have certain similarities, in particular stereotypes associated with a low level of culture and neglect of elitist values.

Unlike the Rednecks, who actively participate in popular culture through music, sports and lifestyle, rural communities (i.e. ex-collective farmers) of the post-Soviet space or urban workers have not created such a distinct cultural identity. Even traditional religious groups that maintain a connection with patriarchal values ​​and a certain isolation from modern urban trends are significantly different, since their way of life is focused on conservatism, and not on the popularization or active manifestation of their own subculture.

Rednecks arose in the context of a specific history of the United States, closely related to the agricultural economy, the legacy of slavery, the Civil War, and the Great Depression. In the post-Soviet space, similar social phenomena developed in the conditions of Soviet collectivization, industrialization, and urbanization, which significantly changed their nature. In addition, rednecks are particularly proud of their own cultural heritage, which is manifested in country music, accents, clothing and lifestyle, while rural residents of post-Soviet countries are often perceived through the prism of inferiority against the background of the dominance of urban culture.

Thus, although certain features of rednecks can be found in social groups of the post-Soviet space, they do not form such a bright and self-sufficient cultural phenomenon. Rednecks are more than a social class; it is a phenomenon that combines historical, geographical and cultural uniqueness, which remains difficult to reproduce in post-Soviet realities.

Politically, rednecks tend to gravitate toward conservative values, supporting the Republican Party, which champions the ideals of the traditional family, gun rights, lower taxes, and the preservation of the American identity. Their political position is often based on distrust of the central government, sympathy for local autonomy and protection of their own lifestyle.

Donald Trump's support among rednecks has been driven by his charisma as an "outsider" who opposes the political elite, his promises to create jobs for the strata affected by the relocation of manufacturing, protectionist economic policies, and rhetoric that emphasized patriotism, security and conservative values . For many rednecks, Trump has become the personification of a person who understands their needs and is ready to defend the traditional way of life against the challenges of globalization and social change.

Thus, although certain features of rednecks can be found in social groups of the post-Soviet space, they do not form such a bright and self-sufficient cultural phenomenon. Their preferences are aimed at protecting the traditional role of the family, Christian morality and the autonomy of local communities, while urbanization and modernization are perceived by them as a threat to the established way of life.

One of the key issues for this community is the right to bear arms, which is associated with fundamental freedom and the ability to defend against both external threats and excessive government control.

At the same time, rednecks prefer politicians who protect the interests of the national economy, promise to create jobs in regions experiencing economic decline, and adhere to protectionist approaches to trade. Their strong stance on limiting immigration is explained by concerns about job losses and the preservation of cultural identity.

Rednecks are not just a social phenomenon or a cultural label. This is a whole layer of American history and culture, which, despite all stereotypes, carries depth, complexity and contradiction. Their pride in their roots, attachment to traditions and specific way of life demonstrate how local identity can become a challenge to globalization and unification.

Looking at rednecks is not only an opportunity to understand America better, but also an attempt to rethink our own attitudes towards similar groups in our cultural context. After all, every society has its "rednecks" - people who live outside the standards of a big city, with their own unique traditions, worldview and place in general history. Understanding their essence is a step toward greater acceptance and understanding of the diversity that shapes us as a community.

Andriy Kurbskyi, analyst for Newsky.