partly because they are considered comfortable. Even in places with warm
climates such as California, it is not uncommon to see a large segment of
a male college population clad in hooded sweatshirts. The hoodie has
become a durable fashion staple, especially amongst younger
generations. Its popularity has increased in recent years, mostly through
their association with other trends like surfing and skateboarding. Many
other sub-cultures also wear hoodies, these also include Goths and
Ravers.
Social fear in the United Kingdom
In the U.K., hoodies have recently been the subject of much criticism:
some wearers have committed criminal acts such as shoplifting using the
hood to conceal their identity from CCTV cameras in shopping centres.
The hat has become a trademark of "chavs", in fact it has been called the
'chav-style' in an Oxfam report. A baseball cap is sometimes also worn
undedrneath the hood. Groups of hoodie-clad youth who loiter in public
places are sometimes known as "hood rats" or just "hoodies" in the
south of England. Many people wear hoodies simply to keep warm.
Angela McRobbie, professor of communications at Goldsmiths College,
says the appeal of the hoodie is because of its promise of anonymity and
mystery and anxiety. "The point of origin is obviously black American
hip-hop culture, now thoroughly mainstream and a key part of the global
economy of music through Eminem and others. Leisure- and sportswear
adopted for everyday wear suggests a distance from the world of office
suit or school uniform. Rap culture celebrates defiance, as it narrates the
experience of social exclusion. Musically and stylistically, it projects
menace and danger as well as anger and rage. The hooded top is one in a
long line of garments chosen by young people, usually boys, and
inscribed with meanings suggesting that they are 'up to no good.' In the
past, such appropriation was usually restricted to membership of specific
youth cultures - leather jackets, bondage trousers - but nowadays it is
the norm among young people to flag up their music and cultural
preferences in this way, hence the adoption of the hoodie by boys across
the boundaries of age, ethnicity and class."
In May 2005, the largest shopping centre in the UK, Bluewater in Kent,
caused outrage by launching a Code of Conduct which bans its shoppers
from sporting hoodies or baseball caps. Hoodies and baseball caps are
still on sale there, however. John Prescott welcomed the move, citing that
he had felt threatened by the presence of hooded teenagers at a
motorway service station. Prime Minister Tony Blair has openly supported
this stance and vowed to clamp down on the anti-social behaviour with
which hoody wearers are sometimes associated. In February 2006, a
58-year-old teacher who was wearing a hooded top was asked to remove
it when entering a Tesco store in Swindon. According to the teacher, he
was wearing the hood because "my hair's a mess". The shop said it was
taking action to "make sure this doesn't happen again."
However, in 2005, Coombeshead College in the south-west of England,
allowed the hoodie to become part of the boys school uniform. The
principal, Richard Haigh stated that the move would help to calm some of
what he called the 'hysteria', surrounding the issue of hoodie wearing.
Hoodies are also worn as part of the Thomas Tallis boys school-uniform
in South-East London.
Hoodie is also a record released by Lady Sovereign to back the Save The
Hoodie Campaign.
In July 2006, David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, made a
speech suggesting that the hoodie was worn more for defensive than
offensive purposes. The speech was derided in a number of sources and
was referred to as "hug a hoodie" by the Labour Party.
Popular Culture
Because of their association with various social stereotypes, hoodies have
received mentions in popular culture.
In the Doctor Who episode "School Reunion" the Doctor comments on
the exceptionally good behaviour of the children at Deffry Vale school,
saying that he expected them to be "happy slapping hoodies with ASBOs
and ringtones", referencing the typical image of a chav.
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