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A 'spoiled brat' (alternatively spelled 'spoilt brat' in British English) is a child who believes that they are above others around them, because their parents and/or other educators systematically fail to teach socially acceptable behavior and discipline. The term also carries the connotation of the child's being privileged, as well seldom being subjected to consequences of their actions.

Contents

Word history

Archetypical image of spoiled brats

Terminology

Fictional spoiled brats

Offensive connotations

References

External links

See also

Word history

The word ''brat'' is recorded in the English language since circa 1505, as slang for "beggar's child," originally northern, Midlands and western England dialect "makeshift or ragged garment," probably the same word as Old English ''bratt'' "cloak," from a Celtic source (cfr. Old Irish ''bratt'' "cloak, cloth"). The modern meaning of mischievous kid is perhaps from the notion of "child's apron." The adjective ''bratty'' was first recorded in 1961.^[1]

Archetypical image of spoiled brats

The stereotypical spoiled brat is a child that comes from a usually-rich family or from a rich upbringing. In fiction there are also stereotypical exterior characteristics. In popular culture they are often portrayed as being "princesses-like" or using stereotypical images of cheerleaders, "popular kids" and Valley Girls
If a girl, she is almost always wearing a dress (some spoiled girls sometimes wear pants, like blue jeans) and sometimes has pigtails or very stylized and oversized ringlets, sometimes with a smile on her face to appear sweet, but may revel in some tomboyish behavior when alone with other kids.

Terminology

A euphemism for "spoiled brat" would be "daddy's little girl", which is a girl that is usually pampered by her father.
A similar but more embracing term is that of a 'spoiled child', which only indicates that it is overindulged, but contrary to the brat is not necessarily misbehaving as a result; in a happy family a parent may even jocularly say something like "you're so spoiled, aren't you?" to a well-behaved child when he or she gets a treat or gift.
During the Cold War France was recovering its wealth and began large economic reforms from the aftermath of World War II. Because of this, the term ''enfant gâté'' (spoiled child) is quite common there. The term is mainly used for those French who were born at the time when France had recovered a lot of its economy and wealth, and for their children, who make up most of the underage population of France today. In Dutch, ''verwend nest'' (verwend means spoiled) only applies to girls.

Fictional spoiled brats

There are many fictional characters (in literature, cartoons, film, television, comics, books...) who may be described as spoiled brats. This is usually due to their outward behavior around people, their financial situations, or the overaffection of their parent(s). Spoiled brats may also be considered antagonists of the show despite not being a villain.
'6teen'

★ Tricia and Caitlin Cooke

★
★ Caitlin Cooke is portrayed as a brat only in the pilot episode "Take this Job and Squeeze It".

★ The Greeter Gods and Goddesses

★ Stanley
'The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'

★ Kootie-Pie Koopa
'Angela Anaconda'

★ Nanette Manoir
'Archie Comics'

★ Leroy Lodge

★ Cheryl Blossom
'Arthur'

★ D.W.

★ Muffy Crosswire
'Atomic Betty'

★ Penelope Lang

★ The Betty Clones

★ Kyle

★ Purrsy

★ Empress Narcissitad

★ Infantor

★ Koreena
'Braceface'

★ Nina Harper
'Bratz'

★ Burdine Maxwell and the Tweevils (Kirstee & Kaycee)

★ Nigel Forrester

★ Meredith ()
'Calvin and Hobbes'

★ Calvin
'Care Bears'

★ Shreeky
'Catscratch'

★ Mr.Blik
'Challenge of the Gobots'

★ Small Foot
'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

★ Veruca Salt
'Code Lyoko'

★ Elisabeth Delmas
''

★ The Delightful Children from Down the Lane

★
'Digimon'

★ Lucemon. Called a "little brat" by Zoe Orimoto and "a spoiled little boy" by Koji Minamoto

★ Mimi Tachikawa (in the beginning)
'Drake & Josh'

★ Megan Parker
'Ed, Edd, n' Eddy'

★ Sarah
'The Fairly OddParents'

★ Trixie Tang

★ Remy Buxaplenty
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'

★ Ferris Bueller
'FoxTrot'

★ Jason Fox

★ Paige Fox
'Golion'

★ Princess Farla
'Gone with the Wind'

★ Scarlett O'Hara
'The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy'

★ Mandy (Billy and Mandy)

★ Mindy
'Harry Potter'

★ Dudley Dursley

★ Draco Malfoy
'Hey Arnold!'

★ Rhonda Wellington Lloyd
''

★ Polly Spark
'Junie B. Jones' (book series)

★ Lucille
'Kim Possible'

★ Jim and Tim Possible

★ Bonnie Rockwaller
'Life With Derek'

★ Casey McDonald

★ Derek Venturi
'The Life and Times of Juniper Lee'

★ Melissa O'Malley
'Malcolm in the Middle'

★ Reese Wilkerson

★ Malcolm Wilkerson

★ Dewey Wilkerson
'Mona the Vampire'

★ Angela Smith
'Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide'

★ Missy Meaney

★ Suzie Crabgrass

★ Evelyn Kwong
'Ned's Newt'

★ Rusty McCay
'Olliver's Adventures'

★ Brianna
'Peanuts'

★ Lucy van Pelt

★ Sally Brown
'Pokémon (anime)'

★ Max

★ Piplup

★ Harley
'The Powerpuff Girls'

★ Princess Morbucks
'Princess Sissi'

★ Princess Helena
'The Proud Family'

★ LaCienega Boulevardez
'Rugrats'/'All Grown Up!'

★ Angelica Pickles
''

★ Gemini Stone
'Sabrina's Secret Life'

★ Cassandra
'Samurai Pizza Cats'

★ Princess Vi
'A Series of Unfortunate Events'

★ Carmelita Spats
'The Simpsons'

★ Bart Simpson
'South Park'

★ Eric Cartman
'Spongebob Squarepants'

★ Pearl Krabs
'Time Squad'

★ J. T. Laser and the Lance 9,000,000,000,000
'Tiny Toon Adventures'

★ Montana Max
'Totally Spies!'

★ Mandy Luxe
'What about Mimi?'

★ Sincerity Travers
'What's with Andy?'

★ Jervis Coltrane
'Zatch Bell'

★ Penny (Mammodo with a less evil bookkeeper, Uri)

★ Sherry Bellmont (Brago's bookkeeper)

★ Naomi (Human Rival of Zatch and Ponygon)

Offensive connotations

As with any other derogatory term, it can be offensive for someone to be called this, some believe that more than being indicative of the accused 'spoiled brat's privilege and poor behaviour it's more likely to show a psychological weakness in the accuser. This doesn't mean to say that there aren't mentally secure, content and successful people who believe that giving too much to an unappreciative child is detrimental to that child's future.
Another problem with this term is that it implies that the parents have ruined the child and this is hurtful. It's never easy to tell who a 'spoiled' person is, some would say that it's someone who doesn't respect their elders and even their peers, others would say it's someone who receives a lot of possessions and love and doesn't appreciate what they're receiving; some people believe that it's just a child from a rich family.

References

1. EtymologyOnLine URL accessed February 15, 2006.

External links

★ IMDb links to uses of the word in the world of film and TV- click especially both keywords

See also

★ Military brat

★ Stock character