The History behind the ‘Betty’…
By Stephanie Brookes
The term ‘Betty’ is a surfing-slang word for a woman who surfs. The word became popular in west-coast USA in the 80s to refer to these counter-culture badass surf and skater girls. It’s now spread to include other board sports such as snowboarding. Some claim the name ‘Betty’ originates from Betty Grable, a timeless 1930’s film star and original pin-up girl, or Bettie Page, another popular beauty, who’s iconic fringe style was often copied by skater and surf chicas.
Other possible original Bettys include Betty Boop (1940s) cartoon, Betty Rubble from The Flintstones, and Betty Cooper from the Archie’s comic. Pop-culture and surf culture were closely integrated in the early days of surf culture as it was dominated by youth, and many of these original Bettys were powerful sex symbols. However it became a more widely used term over time- for example in 1995 as a slang term in the Hollywood film Clueless. It’s no doubt though that all these Bettys were strongly independent women.
Surfing of course is much older than the term Betty. Historically, it has been reported that women (and men and children) began their love affair with riding waves throughout Polynesia, from Hawaii to Tahiti, Tonga to Samoa. It was something everyone could participate in, and regarded as an experience not only of skill, but of complete pleasure. Surfing is now so ingrained in Hawaiian culture that almost as many women surf as men, and it was also Hawaiians who made it popular worldwide. The ancient and legendary Princess Kelea of Maui said that she would not marry a man, only her surfboard. And the first woman to surf in Britain was Scottish/Hawaiian Princess Victoria Ka’iulani, who was heir to the Hawaiian throne and studying in Brighton in 1892.
So where did the image of the blonde surfer girl come from? A pivotal moment in more recent history was the 1959 film Gidget, a fictional character based on real-life female surfer Kathy Kohner who rode the waves of Malibu in the 50s. Her Hollywood image of white skin, blond hair, svelte figure and pretty face seemed to stick with us as the epitome of the ‘Surfer Girl’. Popular films, music and the idea of the Californian dream soon spread across the western world and many middle class youths participated in the sport. Surfing went hand in hand with relaxing at the beach with friends, smoking cannabis and just having an epic time with no worries in sight!
Nowadays, Betty is being used for a term by ladies worldwide as they create their own image, be it as skaters, surfers, boarders or all-round shredders. Being a Betty here in New Zealand correlates with obviously being female, having similar interests and being part of a sisterhood of female surfers in the line up, whether you know the other lady sliders or not. There is an unspoken ‘club’ formed almost immediately, when more than two female surfers paddle out. Subconsciously you look out for one-another, secretly egg each other on and give a little internal cheer (yay!) when she makes a good drop or walks up and casually hangs five in all the lady style. So regardless of the origin of the term Betty, we are part of an inclusive club making history in the lineup.
Welcome to Club Betty.