Good ol' boy network

Good ol' boy network

"Good ol' boy" describes a system of social networking and perceptions alleged to exist prevalently among certain communities and social strata in the United States. Although the term originated in the South, these networks can be found throughout the U.S. and the rest of the Western world. It is typically taken to refer to informal legal, judicial, social, religious, business, and political associations among white males ("good ol' boys"); however, in modern times can be composed of either or both sexes. In some areas, the good ol' boy network is said to still exert considerable influence over many aspects of local government, business, and law enforcement. Usage of the term can often imply a wrongful exclusion of others from the network; however, often the emphasis is on inclusion of a member, as in, "doing a good ol' boy a favor".

Some negative effects of the good ol' boy network are its exclusion of others, leading to leaders of a community possibly limiting business transactions to other elites, or to friends or acquaintances from within the network, to give friends better deals, and generally to reinforce traditional power structures over any other elements in the society.

Perceptions of religious and racial prejudice also endure, and the good ol' boy network is sometimes seen as unique to WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants), with Catholics, Jews, and minority groups excluded. The network also functions like any other social network inasmuch as governmental, business, and professional connections and concessions often develop via mutual friendships and introductions established through the network.

ee also

*Old boy network
*Good ol' boy
*Fraternal organization
*Guanxi
*The Man


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • good-old-boy network —  See old boys network / old boys network …   American business jargon

  • good old boy — noun a white male Southerner with an unpretentious convivial manner and conservative or intolerant attitudes and a strong sense of fellowship with and loyalty to other members of his peer group • Syn: ↑good ole boy, ↑good ol boy • Hypernyms:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • good old boy — good old boyism. Informal. 1. a male who embodies the unsophisticated good fellowship and sometimes boisterous sociability regarded as typical of white males of small towns and rural areas of the South. 2. a person who belongs to a network of… …   Universalium

  • good old boy — good′ old (or ol or ole ) boy′ [[t]oʊl[/t]] n. 1) cvb a man embodying the unsophisticated good fellowship and sometimes boisterous sociability regarded as characteristic of white males of the Southern U.S 2) cvb a person, esp. a man, belonging to …   From formal English to slang

  • good old boy — noun a) A male friend or chum, especially a schoolmate; a man with an established network of friends who assist one another in social and business situations; a decent, dependable fellow. Billie, what kind of a lad is that young Coke up at… …   Wiktionary

  • Old boy network — For the type of political corruption, see Good ol boy network. An old boy network, or society, can refer to social and business connections among former pupils of male only private schools. British public school students were traditionally called …   Wikipedia

  • Old boy network (Finland) — In Finland, the Finnish term hyvä veli verkosto (literally dear brother network) is used to refer to the alleged informal network of men in high places whose members use their influence to pervert or circumvent official decision making processes… …   Wikipedia

  • the old-boy network — UK US noun [S] (also old school tie) UK DISAPPROVING ► the informal system in which men who went to the same school or university help each other to find good jobs or get other social advantages: »He got his City job through the old boy network.… …   Financial and business terms

  • (the) old-boy network — the way in which men who have been to the same expensive school or university help each other to find good jobs. He admitted the old boy network had once existed in the company but said that things had changed now …   New idioms dictionary

  • good-old-boy club system —  See old boys network / old boys network …   American business jargon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”