The Straight-Edge Movement
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Born in the early 1980's of the then-youthful East Coast US punk and hardcore scene, "straight-edge," or, for short, "sXe" is a social movement, most popular in hardcore punk circles, that emphasizes individuality and freedom from "society's pollutants."<P>
The term "straight-edge" can be tracked to a song by that name, originally recorded by seminal East Coast hardcore act Minor Threat. The lyrics to this song, as well as another by that act, "Out of Step," provide the "dogma" so to speak, of the movement. <P><CENTER>
"Don't drink, don't smoke, don't f**k, at least I can f*****g think."</CENTER><P>
The main tenets of straight-edge are threefold. 1: Abstain from all forms of tobacco. 2: Abstain from all forms of controlled substance (i.e., drugs) 3: Abstain from all forms of alcohol. The straight-edge youth is, by rejecting these intoxicants, maintaining control of his or herself.<P>
There are several additional/optional values that can be added to the lifestyle as well. Veganism, the refusal to partake of animal products, is one. Some straight-edge adherents are celibate, and others only partake in sexual frivolity as part of a committed monogamous relationship. Still others are "militant," and will actually inflict physical damage on those who disagree with their tenets. <P>
The most common symbol of straight-edge is the letter "X," usually inscribed on the backs of the hands or on the back of the neck, in reference to the custom of bar doormen marking those who are not old enough to drink with an "X" on the hand. <P>
It is uncertain exactly how many people have flocked to the movement, however, at most punk shows nowadays, it is quite common to see at least a handful of people wearing the X. Straight-edge has spread in popularity outside the hardcore punk scene, and is slowly making inroads in America's high schools and colleges.<P><P>ALSO SPELLED: "Straightedge," "Straight Edge"
The term "straight-edge" can be tracked to a song by that name, originally recorded by seminal East Coast hardcore act Minor Threat. The lyrics to this song, as well as another by that act, "Out of Step," provide the "dogma" so to speak, of the movement. <P><CENTER>
"Don't drink, don't smoke, don't f**k, at least I can f*****g think."</CENTER><P>
The main tenets of straight-edge are threefold. 1: Abstain from all forms of tobacco. 2: Abstain from all forms of controlled substance (i.e., drugs) 3: Abstain from all forms of alcohol. The straight-edge youth is, by rejecting these intoxicants, maintaining control of his or herself.<P>
There are several additional/optional values that can be added to the lifestyle as well. Veganism, the refusal to partake of animal products, is one. Some straight-edge adherents are celibate, and others only partake in sexual frivolity as part of a committed monogamous relationship. Still others are "militant," and will actually inflict physical damage on those who disagree with their tenets. <P>
The most common symbol of straight-edge is the letter "X," usually inscribed on the backs of the hands or on the back of the neck, in reference to the custom of bar doormen marking those who are not old enough to drink with an "X" on the hand. <P>
It is uncertain exactly how many people have flocked to the movement, however, at most punk shows nowadays, it is quite common to see at least a handful of people wearing the X. Straight-edge has spread in popularity outside the hardcore punk scene, and is slowly making inroads in America's high schools and colleges.<P><P>ALSO SPELLED: "Straightedge," "Straight Edge"
