To many people, the term "redneck" conjures images of trailer parks and rifle racks; hunting knives and confederate flags. Which is no wonder, given how often it's used as an insult to describe Southerners in the United States. According to the stereotype, "rednecks" aren't just from the red states--they're often alcoholic and racist too. Calling someone a "redneck" is similar to calling them "white trash"--it implies that they are poor and uneducated--but it's slightly more regional.
According to the "Oxford English Dictionary," this meaning of the word dates back to 1893 when it was a derogatory term used to insult rural farm workers. Farmers would work all day in the sun wearing straw hats and tee-shirts, and the backs of their necks would get sunburned. Get it, "red neck"? Since the South long remained the agricultural hub of the U.S., the term was eventually applied to Southerners in general.
The word was first used, however, in 1830, to refer to the Presbyterians of Fayetteville, Georgia. Some historians argue that today's meaning of the term originated with this reference to poor Scotch-Irish farmers.
These days, "redneck" has become a source of Southern pride in some circles. Comedians like Jeff Foxworthy turn "redneck" stereotypes into lighthearted mockery, as do television shows like "King of the Hill." Whether a source of pride or prejudice, it seems "redneck" culture has become a part of popular culture.
