Chonis and pijas: Slut-shaming and double standards in online performances among Spanish teens

Abstract

In a context of demonization of the working class in Western societies, the choni has become an epitome of the female incarnation of the failed underclass in Spain. During our focus group discussions with 16- to 20-year-olds, girls evoked clear-cut images of the tasteless and sexualized choni as a stigma to avoid, in contrast with the more classy pija. This article deals with gender and class regarding sexual scrutiny on social media in Spain. Youngsters’ readings of the choni/ pija eluded a socio-economic explanation, pointing to the ‘moral standards’ that chonis supposedly fail to attain. We argue that online spaces make it more difficult for chonis to avoid this omnipresent ‘double’ double standard.