Introduktion
In 1913, George Bernard Shaw remarked in the preface to Pygmalion, "Whenever an Englishman speaks, he runs the risk of drawing disdain from his compatriots."

Today, recent news highlights the persistent issue of accent prejudice, or "accentism," which affects the university lives of numerous students.

Even at northern universities, those hailing from the north of England often encounter comments and mockery directed at their accents.

Innehållsförteckning
Stereotyping
The Cockney diaspora/

Utdrag
Stereotyping
Despite UK laws prohibiting discrimination based on protected characteristics like gender, race, religion, or disability, accent is notably absent from this list.

The act of categorization forms the foundation for social judgments. Once accent is used to perceive group membership, it transforms from merely indicating regional origin to being tied to broader stereotypes.

Accents then become linked with qualities such as laziness, correctness, femininity, friendliness, aloofness, and more. Consequently, these traits are attributed to anyone who speaks in a particular manner.

These assessments are unrelated to linguistic qualities – no English dialect possesses an inherent superiority, greater beauty, or intrinsic correctness – but rather signify a manifestation of classism.

Accentism frequently unveils concealed prejudices. When we evaluate someone's attributes based on their accent, we aren't appraising them on their individual merit; instead, we're making assumptions about their social class, education, and ethnicity solely based on their manner of speech. Needless to say, these assumptions often prove to be unfounded.

The Cockney diaspora
A recent investigative report by The Guardian rightfully exposed the prevalence of accentism experienced by students from the north of England in elite universities nationwide.

While discrimination against northern accents is a recurring theme in the media, accentism, in research, defies a simple "south good, north bad" characterization.

Surprisingly, studies consistently reveal that some of the most stigmatized accents in Britain are found in south-east England, particularly in Essex.

This trend is a relatively recent phenomenon, stemming from the substantial migration of working-class Cockney speakers to the outskirts of London, the home counties, and Essex in the "Cockney diaspora" since the early 20th century.

By the 1980s, these communities in Essex, traditionally working class, underwent transformation through increased educational attainment, employment opportunities, and home ownership. Consequently, the Essex accent became associated with upstarts and the nouveau riche.