Hoodie Boys
2010
We Should All Wear Hoodies
The hoodie is an enormously practical garment. Simply a sweatshirt with a hood attached, sometimes with a zipper. They’ve been around since the 1980s, generally worn by the younger generation.
In the United States the hoodie is associated with hip hop culture. In Australia they were the chosen garment of surfers. But in the United Kingdom the term hoodies has been adopted to refer to groups of problematic young people, generally boys.
Many UK shopping centers have taken the decision to ban the wearing of hoodies. This is due to their association with crime and the wearer trying to conceal their identity. But a garment doesn’t make someone a criminal.
The media really loves this type of labeling. Hardly a day goes by without hearing reports of hoodie wearing youths or hoodie yobs involved in some sort of alleged criminal behavior. In fact there are numerous reports of police being called simply because a group of hoodie wearing young people have gathered at a bus stop.
Figures show that more than 50% of stories in the press about teenage boys involve crime. These reports use various terms to describe the young boys involved, often as ‘yobs’ or ‘thugs’ and commonly these days as ‘hoodies’. The only reports in which teenage boys receive sympathetic coverage is if they have died.
This media stereotyping, partially based upon an item of clothing, is having a damaging effect on boys growing up in the UK. They are fearful of one another and many felt that adults were more wary of them these days.
Is this a new phenomenon? Of course not. In the fifties there were teddy boys. In the sixties mods and rockers. In the seventies skin-heads. Each group had their own signature form of dress.
So is there an answer to the growing trend to demonize young people, boys in particular due to the clothes that they wear? Less surveillance would help but that would not go down well in many areas of Britain. The UK is fast becoming a surveillance state with more cameras per head of population than any other European country.
But the hooded sweatshirt is not itself evil. In fact they are practical and stylish. Vans hoodies, for example, come in a variety of styles and materials, ideal for anybody. Perhaps that is another way to address the problem. Encourage more older people to start wearing them, perhaps with some Rip Curl Tshirts and Vans Shoes trainers. Cool.
Black Hoodie Boys – Black and Old Gold
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THE NORTH FACE JACKET DENALI HOODIE FLEECE BLACK SIZE L BOY’S $29.99 |
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Rip Curl Team Pro Jacket Black Size L Mens Boys White Camo Ski Snow Board Hoodie $287.03 |
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Spyder Boy’s Full Zip Hoody Core Sweater 2012 $89.00 |
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NEW 2012 SPYDER BOYS YOUTH 1/2 ZIP HOODY MW CORE SWEATER SKI SNOWBOARD JACKET M $62.99 |
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NEW 2012 SPYDER BOYS YOUTH FULL ZIP HOODY MW CORE SWEATER SKI SNOWBOARD JACKET M $79.99 |
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2011 NEW SPYDER KIDS REVERSIBLE HOODY JACKET BOYS XL $129.00 |
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Backstreet Boys Zip Hoodie $70 Heather grey zip hoodie has “Backstreet Boys Cruise” printed on the front and back, with a cruise ship graphic on the back. |
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Aerosmith Bad Boys Zip Up Hoodie $33.9 Aerosmith Bad Boys Zip Up Hoodie |
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Boys Skeleton Sweatshirt Hoodie $35.96 Boys Horror Costume features a full zip skeleton print sweatshirt hoodie with see-thru face mask. If your boy loves scary costumes, he’ll love the Boy’s Skeleton Sweatshirt Hoodie. The skeleton costume Boys Horror Costume features a zip-up hoodie with a gory looking skeleton printed on the front. The skeleton hoodi… |
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Quiksilver Boys Easy Beat Hoodie (Black) $46.4 When you’re wearing the Quiksilver Boys Easy Beat hoodie, everything is a little bit easier. |
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Boys Gymnastics Hoodie Sports Kids Hoodie by CafePress $26 Boys Gymnastics Hoodie – Gymnastics… It’s what I do… Great gift for male gymnast Sports Kids Hoodie Stay warm while lookinrsquo; casual-cool in this kid version of an adult favorite – our ash grey Hanes Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. Deep front pocket and hood for extra protection against getting slammed by bad weather. Made of cotton/polyester blend that |
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BBC Athletic Hoodie Boys Hooded Sweatshirt by CafePress $45 Show you’re a heavy hitter and work out with the big boys Boys Hooded Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The hoodie: the perfect utilitarian piece of clothing. Leave your hat and scarf at home Stay warm and comfy in your Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. This hoodie is constructed with a cotton/polyester blend – both durable and comfortable.Heavyweight 90 |
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Ed Hardy Boys Boys Skull Vest & Hoodie – Gray $55 Give him a chic layered look in this Ed Hardy Boys Skull Vest Hoodie. This hoodie features a quilted vest with a built in sweatshirt Hoodie with Skull graphics print in the front and back. Dual snaps zippered closure ribbed cuffs and hem and split |
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Ed Hardy Boys Bulldog Vest & Hoodie – Navy $59 Give him a chic layered look in this Ed Hardy Boys Bulldog Vest Hoodie. This hoodie features a quilted vest with a built in sweatshirt Hoodie with Bulldog graphics print in the front and back. Dual snaps zippered closure ribbed cuffs and hem and s |
