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“Swagger”:
The Attraction Factor Amongst Teens
Written by: Kenneth-Michael
The word “swagger” has been mentioned in just about every record on the radio today. But, just what is the meaning of “swagger” and how is it affecting teenagers today? So, I decided to interview youth in Baltimore City to get the scoop on the term and just what it means to this generation.
Shakera Lawson, 17, is a student at Western High School. Lawson credits her swagger to her individuality…
What is swagger?
To me, swagger is the way someone carries themselves, such as the way they dress and the personality that comes with it. It mean there is not a set swagger; it can be a switch-up type thing, like if they have on sweatpants, tennis, and a shirt, they may have a swagger that goes along with that particular outfit. Some people have that swagger where it is a constant thing everyday, but, to me, it is something that can be switched. It is not a set or ongoing thing.
So, you could be dressed in a suit and still have swagger?
Right.
Describe your swagger, if you could? Do you have a swagger?
I think I do have swagger. I feel that my swagger is different from everyone else because I feel as though, I don’t try to replicate anyone. I am my own person and there are people that will come up to me and say, “Well, yeah. I like what you have on.” Then, there are people that say a thing like, “That is different,” and, “I don’t think I will ever wear that, but it looks cute on you.” So, my swagger is very out of the normal. I think that I am very odd in my style. For me, I like bright colors, but I can’t really explain how I put them together. So, I do think that I have swagger.
“Boys who chose to wear their pants off their butts… They don’t have no type of swagger. I think you have to
have a belt on at least. No one wears pants hanging off their butt no more. That was like so three years ago…”
Do you have a boyfriend right now?
No.
But, you have had a boyfriend?
Yes.
So, when it comes to swagger in males, what do you look for?
I’m not really into the baggy clothes style, to be honest. I like a guy who can be sophisticated in a way, but calm and laid back. For me, I like nice pair of jeans, fitted (hats), slacks, boots or clean tennis. I love a guy in a cardigan sweater or button-up shirt, or a regular t-shirt with a cardigan. Let me go back, I do like fitted at times, but it depends on your particular style. But, I like real calm and chill, but nothing like a suit and tie everyday.
So, that is what attracts you to the opposite sex, you would say?
Yes, if it was a first glance kind of thing. I would be like, “Yeah, he is cute or whatever.”
So, if a guy approached you and he didn’t have those things on, but he had a nice swagger and confidence, would you still talk to this person?
Yes, I think that you can be dingy and still have swag—It is a confidence boost. If you feel as though you can come up to me, and I feel that you have swag, then, of course, I will. Because it could just be a bad day, really, so I would talk to them.
It is important that someone has to have a swagger to talk to you?
Yes, I would say, just because I want someone who can be their own person. Say, if you are in a group or with friends, and maybe I know one of those friends and I see that you are trying to be too much like one of his friends in the group, then no. But, if he is around that person and he seems to be his own person and not stuck on that bandwagon, then, yeah, I would talk to him.
Since swagger is all about being confident, would you say that you were always confident about yourself? Or, should I say, when do you feel like you gained that swagger?
I’m not going to say that I wasn’t really confident, but there were times when I was worried about my appearance. But, I probably would say that it was around my 8th grade year in junior high school. Being a senior, you were looked at the most, so you had to keep yourself up. So, I feel as though that was the time that I found my swagger and who I was.
“My swagger is very out of the normal. I think that I am very odd in my style. For me, I like bright colors, but I
can’t really explain how I put them together…”
Rasheeda, 16, is a junior at Dunbar High School in Baltimore City…
What is swagger?
Style, poise, like the way you carry yourself.
So, can someone get swagger?
You can’t just get swagger. Like, somebody can’t be like, “I like her swagger,” because it is their own style. If that is the case, then they doing something that is not original because they didn’t originate it.
So, describe your swagger?
When I wake up in the morning, I tend to put on what I want to wear. I don’t care what anyone thinks or says. So, basically you have your own appearance. I would say that my swagger is a crazy swagger.
What kind of swagger do Baltimore teens have?
I would say that it is outrageous; you may see someone who switches it up daily.
How can you tell if a boy has swagger or not?
A boy who has swagger, he just look okay. But, if he don’t look okay, then, no, he don’t have no swagger. Like, say for instance, boys who chose to wear their pants off their butts… They don’t have no type of swagger. I think you have to have a belt on at least. No one wears pants hanging off their butt no more. That was like so three years ago.
What type of boys interest you?
Smart boys interest me.
What type of appearance do you go for?
I’m mainly digging boys who wear fades (a popular haircut from the 80’s). I think fades are the new swaggers. One thing that I am not feeling today when it comes to appearances is the whole skinny jeans trend.
After speaking with a hand full of today’s youth, I don’t think there is a set standard of swagger in today’s generation. Overall, I take it as swagger is to just be confident and comfortable with yourself.
