Debagging
Encyclopedia
Debagging or pantsing (the American word for the act), also known as de-pantsing, grogging, shanking, sharking, scanting, dekecking, kecking or drooping, is the pulling down of a person's trousers against their wishes, typically as a practical joke
, but in other instances as a sexual fetish. The most common method is to sneak up behind the intended victim, grab the trousers waistband, and apply a quick downward tug before the victim is aware of the debagger's presence. Sometimes, the trousers are completely removed, and perhaps left somewhere embarrassing to reclaim.
The corresponding term in Australia
is dakking or dacking, which originated from DAKS Simpson
, a clothing brand that became a generic term for trousers and underpants. In Scotland
the process is often known as breeking from the word "breeks" meaning trousers. In New Zealand
the act is known as giving someone a down trou; in Ireland jocking (Although this mainly refers to the act of placing one's foot on the trousers of the debbaged and pushing them, causing them to fall and for their trousers and maybe underpants to be removed).
De-pantsing is a common prank of pulling down a victim's pants. The prank commonly occurs in high school gym classes as a form of bullying. Its most extreme form includes running the pants up the school flagpole. Some U.S. colleges before World War II
were the scenes of large scale "depantsing" scraps between freshman and sophomore males. It is also an initiation rite in fraternities and seminaries. It was cited in 1971 by Gail Sheehy
as a form of sexual assault
against grade school girls, which did not commonly get reported, although it might include improper touching and indecent exposure
by the perpetrators. The United States legal system has prosecuted it as a form of sexual harassment of children.
Alan Johnson
, in a speech to the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
, criticized such bullying and criticised YouTube
for hosting a movie (since removed) of a teacher being debagged, saying that such bullying "is causing some [teachers] to consider leaving the profession because of the defamation and humiliation they are forced to suffer" and that "Without the online approval which appeals to the innate insecurities of the bully, such sinister activities would have much less attraction."
Juanita Ross Epp is highly critical of teachers who regard pupils debagging one another as normal behaviour, saying that debagging makes pupils feel intimidated and uncomfortable and that "normal is not the same as right".
subculture in this type of debagging which is known as sharking which means males pulling up or down females' clothing for sexual reasons. This is an illegal act in most parts of the world.
Videos of sharking are popular in Japan. The women in the videos are sometimes paid actresses.
Girls will collude with dominant boys in targeting weaker boys for debagging, and may also single out those boys that do not share attributes with the dominant male group without the help of or the instigation of boys.
Practical joke
A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or...
, but in other instances as a sexual fetish. The most common method is to sneak up behind the intended victim, grab the trousers waistband, and apply a quick downward tug before the victim is aware of the debagger's presence. Sometimes, the trousers are completely removed, and perhaps left somewhere embarrassing to reclaim.
The corresponding term in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
is dakking or dacking, which originated from DAKS Simpson
Simpsons of Piccadilly
Simpsons of Piccadilly was a large retail shop which traded at 203-206 Piccadilly in central London, England, and was built as a quality clothing store for men in 1935–36...
, a clothing brand that became a generic term for trousers and underpants. In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
the process is often known as breeking from the word "breeks" meaning trousers. In New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
the act is known as giving someone a down trou; in Ireland jocking (Although this mainly refers to the act of placing one's foot on the trousers of the debbaged and pushing them, causing them to fall and for their trousers and maybe underpants to be removed).
De-pantsing is a common prank of pulling down a victim's pants. The prank commonly occurs in high school gym classes as a form of bullying. Its most extreme form includes running the pants up the school flagpole. Some U.S. colleges before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
were the scenes of large scale "depantsing" scraps between freshman and sophomore males. It is also an initiation rite in fraternities and seminaries. It was cited in 1971 by Gail Sheehy
Gail Sheehy
Gail Sheehy is an American writer and lecturer, most notable for her books on life and the life cycle. She is also a contributor to Vanity Fair magazine....
as a form of sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
against grade school girls, which did not commonly get reported, although it might include improper touching and indecent exposure
Indecent exposure
Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure in public or in view of the general public by a person of a portion or portions of his or her body, in circumstances where the exposure is contrary to local moral or other standards of appropriate behavior. Indecent exposure laws vary in different...
by the perpetrators. The United States legal system has prosecuted it as a form of sexual harassment of children.
Debagging as bullying
Debagging can be used as a form of bullying and is technically the crime of simple assault. The practice has been likened to a ritual emasculation. In 2007, British Secretary of State for Education and SkillsSecretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson
Alan Arthur Johnson is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that, he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was...
, in a speech to the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
The NASUWT is a trade union representing teachers, including headteachers, throughout the United Kingdom....
, criticized such bullying and criticised YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
for hosting a movie (since removed) of a teacher being debagged, saying that such bullying "is causing some [teachers] to consider leaving the profession because of the defamation and humiliation they are forced to suffer" and that "Without the online approval which appeals to the innate insecurities of the bully, such sinister activities would have much less attraction."
Juanita Ross Epp is highly critical of teachers who regard pupils debagging one another as normal behaviour, saying that debagging makes pupils feel intimidated and uncomfortable and that "normal is not the same as right".
Debagging as sexual fetish (sharking)
There is a sexual fetishSexual fetishism
Sexual fetishism, or erotic fetishism, is the sexual arousal a person receives from a physical object, or from a specific situation. The object or situation of interest is called the fetish, the person a fetishist who has a fetish for that object/situation. Sexual fetishism may be regarded, e.g...
subculture in this type of debagging which is known as sharking which means males pulling up or down females' clothing for sexual reasons. This is an illegal act in most parts of the world.
Videos of sharking are popular in Japan. The women in the videos are sometimes paid actresses.
Locus populations
Debagging is commonly performed in schools by both boys and girls, and is a popular form of attack.Girls will collude with dominant boys in targeting weaker boys for debagging, and may also single out those boys that do not share attributes with the dominant male group without the help of or the instigation of boys.