Working-Class Identity in Gillian Slovo's The Riots

Harhosh, Zahia Khudier; Fayadh, Asst. Prof. Majeed Ismail

doi:10.37654/aujll.2021.171150

	Working-Class Identity in Gillian Slovo's The Riots
Anbar University Journal of Languages and Literature
Article 16, Volume 13, Issue 3, September 2021, Pages 352-370 PDF (969.19 K)
DOI: 10.37654/aujll.2021.171150
Authors
Zahia Khudier Harhosh; Asst. Prof. Majeed Ismail Fayadh
Abstract
The image of the traditional working class has been shattered and replaced by Chavs image as a significant representation of the working-class in 21st century Britain. This paper aims to articulate working-class subjectivity and the struggle over the meaning of class in Gillian Slovo’s The Riots (2011). It aims to investigate working class culture as a significant interest that determines workers' life chances in modern society. The paper consults Bourdieu's main concept Habitus and Owen Jones' book Chavs: The Demonization of the working class which explores the class hatred during Thatcher's years. Working-class individuals become unemployed, drug abused, and criminals, eventually were forced to live in poverty of mind and body. Working-class individuals find themselves out of their works because of the government policy that plans to destroy them to remove any power that stands against their political decisions. Working-class individuals behavior, their language and taste become the main standards to identify their identity. Finding this new discourse is not a demonstration of poverty, exploitation and oppression or even alienation but the reflection of one's deviation and behavior.
Keywords
Chavs; Slovo; The Riots; Beaurdieu; Working Class

References
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