Cultural and identity based explanations for crime and deviance Flashcards
What does Nightingale (1993) argue?
The theory used the young black males in disadvantaged Philadelphia neighborhoods to understand the appealing nature of crime. They face blocked opportunities for economic mobility and social advancement developing a sense of alienation and frustration. This is further heightened by racial biases within the criminal justice system as they are more likely to be arrested, convicted and incarcerated for similar offences compared to white youths. This leads them to develop a subculture with their own norms and values that glorify violence and risk - taking to gain status and respect within a limited social sphere.
How can Nightingale be evaluated?
- Oversimplifies the motivations for deviance
- Doesn’t account for diversity of experiences
- Limited context
- Male - stream
- Highlights the impact of structural inequalities, racial biases and limited opportunities in shaping their behavior
- A valuable perspective to understand deviance among young black males in disadvantaged urban areas
What does Alexander (1996) argue?
Racial marginalisation and limited opportunities , alienation and exclusion leads to developing identities as youth deviance can be seen as a form of resistance against societal pressures such as graffiti and streetart. It can be seen as a consequence of the deviant label prescribed to them. In addition, youth subcultures allows them to express alternative forms of masculinity through physical prowess, street smartness or loyalty to peers. However, it doesn’t argue that being black leads to deviance rather it considers social context and the challenges black youth face.
How can anti-school subcultures be characterised?
- They exhibit rebellious behaviour like breaking school rules, challenging authority and disrupting lessons
- see little value in academic achievement and can further negative impacts
- they develop their own set of values that emphasise loyalty to friends, street smarts or a carefree attitude
- their values leads to limited contributions to future success in educations or employment
- their behaviour leads to a negative school environment or through a disruptive learning environment
- gives them a sense of belonging and alternative ways of expressing themselves
How do Marxists see the education system?
The education system serves to reproduce social class inequalities and anti - school subcultures are a form of resistance against the system
How do Functionalists see the education system?
Education plays a role in social cohesion and transmitting societal values and anti - school subcultures disrupt the function by challenging dominant norms
What is Decker and Van Winkle’s (1996) explanation for crime and deviance?
They believe the young working class may join gangs because they are pulled towards them as memberships bring status, excitement, wealth, and a sense of belonging. There are also puch factors through negative social consequences like marginalisation
What is White’s (2002) explanation for crime and deviance?
They argue that gangs thrive in the conditions experienced by the underclass, where poverty, marginalisation, and family dysfunctions exist
What is Willis’s (1977) explanation for crime and deviance?
They found that forming anti-school subcultures prepares young working-class boys for work as the negative attitudes towards paid work reflect school work as education is inferior to their future working class jobs. This can be seen through not working hard and picking on more academic boys as well as prioritising mucking about and social connections over academic achievement. The use of the concept ear hole describes a form of selective deafness where they tune out of lessons they perceive as irrelevant. Their behavior and attitudes symbolise a form of symbolic resistance against the dominant middle - class values promoted by schools.
How can Willis be evaluated?
- outdated
- only focuses on masculinity
- there is an oversimplification of the motivations of working class students
What is Brown’s (1987) explanation for crime and deviance?
There are 3 working-class responses to education:
- Getting in: low achievers don’t care about doing well in school since they only want low-skilled employment
- Getting out: high achievers who want to get out of the low-status position in which they grew up in see educational success as a way to get good qualifications and a job
- Getting on: Ordinary working-class youth who just did what they were told in school
What does Abraham (1989) argue?
Anti-school subcultures can be seen as a consequence of placing students in different academic tracks which leads to resentment and disengagement among those placed in lower tracks
What does Macdonald and Marsh (2005) argue?
Young people with limited access to good jobs or social mobility perceive education as irrelevant. Family background and cultural capital (resources and skills values in school) can influence attitudes towards education heightened by a lack of support system to escape the blocked opportunities. They discuss how a negative school environment, or experiences of alienation can lead to disaffection and anti-school dispositions
What are Blackman’s (1998) new wave girls?
New wave girls utilised their DIY and punk-influenced fashion with elements of androgny, expression through movement to the Ramones, cure, Blondie, the banshees and siouxsies, and resistive behaviour against mainstream culture and traditional gender norms establishing a strong sense of community. They also explored different notions of feminity and alternative gender expressions. This social group likely included girls from various backgrounds in the working and middle class
How can new-wave girls be evaluated?
- outdated
- limited context
