skinhead

Skinhead is a youth subculture that emerged in the United Kingdom in the late 1960s among working-class youths. It developed from a blend of mod-era fashion and the Jamaican immigrant communities that popularized ska and reggae in British cities. The style is commonly associated with shaved or closely cropped hair, simple shirts or polo shirts, braces (suspenders), denim or bomber jackets, and sturdy boots such as Dr. Martens. The look and attitude were tied to a sense of working-class pride, practicality, and social camaraderie.

Musically, early skinheads embraced ska and reggae, later incorporating oi! and punk influences. This mix helped the subculture spread beyond its original neighborhoods, particularly in urban centers with strong immigrant and working-class communities. Social spaces such as pubs, clubs, and football terraces played important roles in community life and identity formation.

The political landscape of skinhead culture has been diverse and controversial. The subculture is not monolithic: some participants were apolitical or left-leaning, while others aligned with nationalist or far-right ideologies. In the 1980s and afterward, media and public discourse often linked skinheads with extremist movements, though many skinheads rejected racism and formed anti-racist groups such as SHARPs (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice) or similar collectives to emphasize music, fashion, and solidarity over politics.

Global presence and variation: the skinhead identity spread to other countries and merged with local music scenes and social contexts. Today, there are multiple strands within the culture, from non-political or anti-racist communities to those aligned with particular political personas, making the subculture as a whole highly diverse and evolving.