Slurs break out of prison: A netnographic exploration of the use of a Chilean prison slur in memes

This study presents a netnographic exploration of perkin , a stigmatising slur from Chilean prison argot that has migrated into mainstream digital memes. Originating in the carceral world to denote an inmate subjected to domestic servitude, the term now thrives in Chilean social media, creating a paradox: a word born in the most restricted physical environment flourishes in the most open digital spaces. Bridging philosophy of language with cultural criminology, we position perkin as a slur whose derogatory force stems from enacting power imbalances and assigning subordinate roles. Through netnographic analysis of Chilean memes, we examine how perkin is deployed to mock submission, reinforce informal hierarchies, and perform transgressive identity. Our findings indicate that the slur’s potency lies in tapping into subterranean values—rejection of subjugation, respect for anti-authority shrewdness—latent within the Chilean digital practices documented in our corpus. The memetic life of perkin demonstrates that slurs’ offencive force is dynamically negotiated, challenging static philosophical models whilst revealing digital spaces as crucial arenas for performing cultural power in the online contexts examined here.