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Westie, or Westy, is a colloquial term used in Australian and New Zealand English to stereotypically describe residents of the Greater Western Sydney, the western suburbs of Melbourne (Australia) or the West Auckland city of Waitakere (New Zealand). It may also refer to people who might not live in the west of a city.
There is no equivalent term for people from East such as Eastie.
Origin and definition of the term
The term originated, and is most often used, in relation to residents of the numerous western suburbs of Sydney, Australia, and of Auckland, New Zealand.
According to the Macquarie Dictionary, the term in Australian English now refers to people from outer suburbs and a lower socio-economic background, or to the stereotypes associated with such people.[1] It also states that the term has spread throughout Australia and may be used to refer to people who may not live in the western part of their city.[1] With reference to its use in Sydney, the Macquarie Book of Slang says the term is applied negatively to anyone that may live west of one's own suburb.[2]
The westie persona
The term "westie" is often used to associate someone or something with a stereotype. This stereotype depicts people from the outer suburbs as unintelligent, undereducated, unmotivated, unrefined, lacking in fashion sense, working-class or unemployed. Clothing such as flannelette shirts, Ugg boots, and leopard-print fabric are associated with the stereotype, as are the "uniform" of black t-shirt and ripped jeans.[3] Clothing associated with the female westie includes jeans with tassels and tight-fitting tops, often white.[citation needed]
Auckland, New Zealand
In Auckland, westies are almost entirely residents of Waitakere City, in particular the Auckland city-side suburbs of Massey, Te Atatu, Henderson, Sunnyvale, Glen Eden, Titirangi, and New Lynn. Some people from Avondale are called by others and themselves westies although Avondale is actually within the territory of Auckland City.
To be called a westie in Auckland is sometimes ambiguous as it can be both a pejorative or good natured, depending on intent. Many people from Waitakere City will call themselves westies with pride, yet not meet the stereotypical criteria.[4] Westies are stereotypically seen as being more brash and of-the-soil than other districts of Auckland. The stereotype also incorporates black jerseys and old V8 cars.
The shift from a pejorative to a societal identifier has been abrupt an in no small part due to local comedian Ewen Gilmour whose stand-up comedy act as Ewen "Westie" Gilmour gave the term national prominence between 1995 and 2000 in the premier television programme, "Pulp Comedy". He was "unofficially appointed cultural ambassador" for Waitakere City.[5] He was elected as councillor for the Waitakere City Council in 2004 and joins former mayor Tim Shadbolt as stereotypical westies who have entered local body politics.[citation needed]
- See also: Jafa
Sydney, Australia
In Sydney, westies have taken their name from Sydney's western suburbs, a region of suburbs in which the cost of living is generally considered to be less than that of Sydney's more easterly and inner-city suburbs.[citation needed] The west also has lower levels of professional employment, and is thought by some to have more crime.[citation needed] As a result, the term "westie" was used in a derogatory sense to suggest that someone was uncouth or unsophisticated.[citation needed] The Macquarie Book of Slang reports that the area which westies inhabit does not have clear boundaries even though Western Sydney is generally regarded as being the metropolitan area west of Parramatta. While some in the eastern suburbs might consider residents of Ryde westies, others may restrict the term to areas such as Blacktown and Penrith.[2]
In Sydney the term originated within the surfing community in the early 1970s. Board riders or surfers who lived in the eastern suburbs, closer to the beach and waves, would often refer to what they saw as "part time" weekend surfers, who travelled to the beach from the western suburbs as "westies". In this regard they were seen as "blow ins" who crowded the beach and waves each weekend.[citation needed]
Coastal suburbs
It could be noted in this context that both in Auckland and Sydney, the western suburbs often have no (or less prominent) coastal access. This is often reflected in house prices and suburb 'status'.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Westie", Macquarie Dictionary Online Edition 2005.
- ^ a b "Westie", Macquarie Book of Slang, Macquarie Library, 2000.
- ^ Scott Poynting and Jock Collins (eds), The Other Sydney: Communities, Identities and Inequalities in Western Sydney, Common Ground, 2000. p20.
- ^ Review of Bob Harvey's book (see below). (NB: pdf file)
- ^ Ewen Gilmour's official website
External links
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