Leeds women’s hockey club told to dress up as ‘lower-class’ people for chav social

Leeds University Union Women's Hockey held a "chav" themed social in January.

In the club's Facebook group, it was strictly "ASBO behaviour expected" as members were urged to "set aside all that we believe to be good, honest and noble" and imitate a "young, lower-class person" on "one of the biggest socials of the year".

Pictures uploaded to Instagram by the team's committee showed members wearing tracksuits, carrying fake babies and covering their bodies with tattoos.

One of the society’s members who went to the event, tagged their location on Instagram as “Juvenile Detention Centre”.

The club's captain also posted on Instagram, with #chavnight and #bringingbackthecornrows.

Others attending the event posed with sambuca, hooped earrings and a mugshot.

Another photo of the club with tattoos they've drawn on themselves and a bottle of Lambrini.

Posting in their Facebook group, one of the social secs included a definition of a chav as "a young lower-class person typified by brash and loutish behaviour" compared to the "educated fair maidens" they've described themselves as.

They also said "for one night only we should set aside all that we believe to be good, honest and noble, and replace our champagne flutes with cans of K cider".

The post also encouraged members to have "luminous underwear on show" and that "skin should be orange".

Leeds University Union said that they would be investigating the social.

In a statement they said, “LUU expects all of its clubs and societies to run inclusive and accessible activities, including socials. All clubs and societies commit to uphold the LUU Social Guidelines.”

“Where we become aware that this is not the case, as in this instance, we will investigate this with the organisers and take disciplinary action against individuals or clubs as appropriate.”

The Tab reached out to the Women’s Hockey team and are awaiting a response.

Opinion on chav socials is divided, 3/4 of Liverpool students don‘t think they’re offensive and Birmingham students got mad at someone who said they were.

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Update: In a statement, Leeds University have called the social "ill-judged".