I read on these various groups, often run by Americans who don’t seem to have any connection or vague identity as skinheads talking about ‘skinhead birds’ in some sort of sexual demeanour, as easy meat or some sort of fetish. I’m not quite sure really, it’s the same lot that are constantly screaming about racism, but they don’t have any more knowledge than what they’ve read on some toilet paper.
As for me, coming from a family of three sisters I’ve always 100% put girls on an equal platter to boys, or in fact I have more respect for women than men in many ways, the hardship of being a working class girl on a council estate with the only expectations of becoming a cleaner, typist or if you’re really successful a school teacher or nurse.
As young skinheads we were a street army. We were not cool. We were the rough, violent and ugly kids that were banned from everywhere, outcasts in the true sense. We attracted the fat kids, the spotty, the gingers and in my case the skinny kids who packed together to create a protection.
But another big connecting thread among us was child abuse. In my case that was mostly emotional and violent abuse, but for many girls that was sexual abuse. Girls joined our mob, they uglified themselves quite often, self-harming scars, tattoos, shaved heads etc, but we loved them. Many of my skinhead girl friends over the years through all our craziness have remained solid friends. Most didn’t last very long as actual skinheads, but the heart and soul is always there. When I recently had a stroke and was unable to work and earn, the main people that came to my rescue were ex skinhead girls of my life, the deep love still intact after more than 40 years in some cases.
I’ve never really had a full skinhead girlfriend for more than the odd few brief months here and there, although my kids’ mum was a skinhead girl when I met her.
But probably above any other women I have always held a massive respect for the girls in this subculture. I really hate the yank term ‘Oi toy’ and such like, but that is generally used by other jealous bitchy girls. It’s very hard for girls to be accepted, often as they are girlfriends of skinheads and after the relationship breaks up they tend to move on to the next circle of friends, often not skinheads .
But I just want to tip my hat to our girls and know you are truly respected and equal to any guy in this scene in your own right.
The first picture is showing me and my little sister in 1981.
Symond Lawes
Symond is the organiser behind The Great Skinhead Reunion Brighton.
Creases Like Knives 
Hello, Symond.
I’m enjoying your site and your article. Thanks for that. I saw loyalty with the girls more than the boys as well. I was getting bested on the ground in a fight and my loyal skinhead girlfriend at the the time was there to kick some ribs.
The early 80s was my time as yours was. In 1982, I was 13 and started going to music venues with my older brother. Punk was still going full steam ahead. Where I could appreciate the energy, the nihilistic and unsureness of what the hell these people were rebelling against left me with questions. Being a shy young boy who played football, I gained confidence and appreciated the concept of patriotism, which punks obviously were not, so after socializing with skinheads at the venues, I soon saw that was my group.
They didn’t take any shit from the status quo. I soon found myself in the middle of division. I knew mod kids and genuinely saw they had a well organized scene, enjoyed their scooter runs, and appreciated the music even though I preferred dub reggae to ska. Some of us mingled with them and then there were the white power idealists who would pick on them. I would defend but even had friends who were very idealistic with the racial beliefs. I was attacked from behind by a SHARP at a show with a wine bottle, and criticized by the WP skins for giving a few bucks to an old, homeless black guy all in a 6 month period I remember.
I wouldn’t trade all my experiences with any other, still listen to the old music, and though I grew apart from most everyone I knew, my best friend from the time we were 3 years old, (his Dad was British and has relatives in Wickford) can still appreciate the experiences of life with some good food and a few beers.
England is the root of skinhead, but I thought it interesting how similar circumstances were here in America ( media sniping us, categorizing us as Nazis, the divide within the subculture, etc.) I’ll sign off now, but take care of yourself and I’ll be sure to visit this site again.
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