Youth Subcultures Flashcards
(116 cards)
1
Q
define spectacular subcultures:
A
spectacular subcultures can be defined as highly visible subcultures, mainly studied at Birmingham University
2
Q
explain Rastafarians:
A
- associated with Jamaican/caribbean culture, reggae music and dreadlocks
- smoking marijuana is associated with Rastas and seen as part of their religion (helps them reach a higher level of spirituality)
3
Q
what did HEBDIGE say about Rastas?
A
- he saw this culture as forms of resistance to white culture and racism with roots in slavery
- many were attracted to Britain as it offered a positive identity and opposition to racism they experienced
4
Q
explain Brasians:
A
- fusion between asian/british culture
- young British asians refuse to accept a subordinate place in society, and want to celebrate their culture by making it more fashionable
5
Q
what does JOHAL say about brasians?
A
- he says some brasians adopted a “hyper-ethnic” style and exaggerated their parents culture (watching hindi films, listening to asian music)
- this gave them “empowerment through difference”
- however, issues like religion/diet may lead to brasians being selective on what they want to follow
- known as “code switching”, where they move from one culture to another depending on what they saw as most appropriate
6
Q
are brasians resistance or hybridity?
A
- although Rastas are resistance, brasians show more hybridity by blending aspects of their parent’s culture with British popular culture
- however, by hanging onto some of their traditional culture, this could be seen as a form of resistance (as they’re resisting to assimilate into white British culture)
7
Q
what does MERCER stay about hairstyles?
A
- spoke about the styling of hair within black culture and its symbolic meaning
- afro/dreadlocks part of black ID (resistance)
- straightened hairstyles imitating white culture (integrating)
- however, MERCER says this is a very simple explanation, all hairstyles can be forms of hybridity
8
Q
explain ethnocentric sociologists:
A
a criticism of functionalists, feminists and the CCCS is that they don’t consider the impact of race/ethnicity on youth subcultures
9
Q
what does HEBDIGE say about ethnocentric sociologists?
A
- there is a clear relationship between black styles of dress, music and dance, but this isn’t explored any further
- therefore, sociologists are accused of being ethnocentric
- studies in the US have been less “white focused” and considered hip hop and gangsta rap as subcultures
- however, these studies were done by black sociologists
10
Q
explain white wannabes: (hybrid sc)
A
- NAYAK identified “white wannabes”, young wc males who adopt the style/language of black culture
- listen to hip hop, wear lots of bling and dress in a style associated with black males
- example: Ali G
11
Q
explain modern primitives: (hybrid sc)
A
- subculture found in us/Western Europe, often described as a Neo tribe
- wide but loose membership, focus more on individuality
- have body modifications (tattoos) as a way of expression
12
Q
what do VALE+JUNO say about modern primitives? (hybrid sc)
A
- these body modifications are a reaction to the sense of powerlessness created by living in a fast changing world, as it gives a sense of power and control can be regained
13
Q
explain cultural exchange and appropriation (hybrid sc)
A
- hybridity in youth sc can be seen as positive, leading to more understanding between different ethnic groups
- can be seen as a form of cultural exchange
- however, can also be viewed as negative
- taking aspects of other ethnic cultures into white sc is a form of “cultural appropriation”
- example: tattoo’s/piercing in modern primitives
- popularity of chinese letters/dreadlocks criticised as forms of exploitation and disrespect
14
Q
what does HUTNYK say about cultural exchange/appropriation? (hybrid sc)
A
- western sc may strip the meaning from symbols and use them in a superficial way
- idea of “cultural exchange” suggests a 2 way process, but is it actually one sided?
- for example, it could be said aspects of British culture have been imposed onto other cultures, whereas aspects of other cultures have been taken by British subcultures without any “exchange” taking place
15
Q
how do the new right explain deviant subcultures?
A
- youths in deviant subcultures haven’t received the correct socialisation to accept the value consensus held by the majority of society
- they’re seen to have different, deviant n+v
- MURRAY says the underclass don’t want to work and depend on the welfare system, seeing it as an acceptable lifestyle choice
- in MURRAY’S analysis, the entire underclass can be seen as a deviant sc, but it is particularly among youth through gangs and anti-school sc
16
Q
what does MURRAY state about single parent families and their impact on deviant ys?
A
- boys growing up w/o fathers can explain high crime rates of male youths in deprived areas
- they grow up unsocialised, have poor impulse control and become sexual predators
- girls w/o fathers can be emotionally damaged, and search for a father substitute, leading to getting pregnant early
- growing up in a single parent family is more damaging and a greater indicator of criminality than poverty
17
Q
how can MURRAY/new right theory be criticised?
A
- victim blaming: MURRAY blames people for their own poverty when it’s not always an individual’s choice to live of state benefits (could be illness, lack of jobs)
- not all from the underclass have a lazy work ethic: many want to work, but the opportunity isn’t there
- not all who live in poverty turn to crime
18
Q
explain BECKER’S labelling theory: (interactionist)
A
- labelling relates to power: if you have power, you have the ability to make a label stick
- e.g. young people labelling police has little to no effect, yet police labelling youths has an effect (leads to stop/searches, more arrests)
- leads to “self fulfilling prophecy”
- e.g. young male constantly labelled by police, accept he’s deviant so more likely to make choices that get him into trouble, so living up to the deviant label
19
Q
explain CICOUREL’S study: social organisation of juvenile justice (interactionist)
A
- carried out obvs with police/CJS in 2 US cities, found the process of dealing with potential deviants had 3 stages:
1. stop and search based on behaviour being “suspicious”
2. arrest person depending on their appearance/behaviour towards police
3. probation officer has a picture of the “typical delinquent”, sees if they fit that profile - he linked the effect of behaviour to social class: if someone is polite and apologetic, no further action may be taken
- he says “justice can be negotiated”
- the 2 cities were similar in $ background + population, yet 1 city had constant high juvenile delinquency rates, the other fluctuated on media publicity/public concern
- therefore, delinquents are constructed by the agencies of social control, and therefore socially constructed
20
Q
how can we evaluate interactionist explanations on ds?
A
by using labelling and the concept of self fulfilling prophecy to explain youth deviance, they assume the label comes first, so they don’t explain why some youth commit deviant acts before they’re labelled and why others don’t
21
Q
why do marxists/neo marxists believe youth subcultures form?
A
- CCCS take a Neo-marxist approach, and tended to focus on social class and the $ situation faced by young people
- despite looking/dressing differently, the members of these subcultures still faced the same experiences/social issues, e.g. high unemployment and racial tension
- sc can be seen as a form of resistance against the ruling class and the $ system youths are in
22
Q
how can we evaluate the marxist/neo marxist view?
A
- they were finding meanings that didn’t actually exist (were looking for examples relating to class so interpreted sc in this way, when youths may just have been having fun)
- feminists challenge CCCS for ignoring girls
- MCROBBIE+GARBER were part of CCCS, but as feminists they challenged their findings and did their own studies
- middle class had ignored sc (hippies), so could be argued the CCCS chose sc to fit their findings
- majority of youths don’t belong to sc, so were only studying a visible minority
- dated, as today’s youth is different
23
Q
explain club cultures: (pm)
A
- researched by Manchester institute of popular culture
- no clear gender, class or ethnic differences can be found amongst clubbers
- the research emphasises the role of the media as an important part of club cultures
- REDHEAD states sc are formed within the media and the media drives sc, not the other way around like the CCCS argued
24
Q
explain neo tribes (pm)
A
- MAFFESOLI used this term to refer to a loosely organised group with no fixed membership or commitment
- group ID’s no longer formed along traditional social lines (e.g. class), instead youths flit from tribe to tribe, dabbling in different aspects (clothes/music) then moving on
- tribes not exclusive, group is used to satisfy individual needs
- BENNET supports this by researching nightclubs in Newcastle, finding neo tribes based around fashion/lifestyle but with with no shared values
- e.g. clubbing is multidimensional, as clubbers move between rooms and engage in different crowds
25
explain the supermarket of style: (pm)
- POLHEMUS says youths can create ID's by choosing from cultures, fashions, ect
- all the choices available mean commitment to one style isn't very common, and young people are reluctant to give themselves labels and restrict their choices
- retro fashions are common but the entire sc isn't recreated, just certain parts
- style is important, and fluidity and choice are central for youth today
26
how can we evaluate postmodernist explanations of ys?
- there are still some distinct youth subcultures, such as emos, so not everyone mixes styles
- do young members belong to neo tribes or are they just having fun with friends?
- ys are largely mainstream and often driven by the media, so are people actually making choices or are these Neo Tribes artificial and media driven?
- the fluidity of youths where everyone is equal isn't true for many (there are ethnic/gender divides)
- people still form subcultures through protests/politics, e.g. human rights activists
27
how do functionalists see youth?
- functionalists see society based on consensus
- individuals must feel integrated into society and feel that they belong
- if they don't feel integrated, they will be isolated and anomie will occur
28
what did PARSONS say about the emergence of youth? (f)
- youth only emerged with the development of capitalism
- young people had to learn the skills for adult life, taught through education
- it's an important stage during a stressful time, where individuals must learn to leave the security of their family and become independent
break ties with parents: childhood
develop independence to start their own families: adulthood
- becoming independent (getting part time jobs, spending more time away from their family) gives experience of independence and develops skills, such as money management
- youth culture is a right of passage that individuals must go through between childhood/adulthood
29
how does EISENSTADT see youth culture as a way of bringing people together? (f)
- youth culture is a way of bringing young people into society
- youth provides shared n+v with peers and a sense of belonging
- rebellion is seen as normal, "hormonal", but functionalists say it's pushing the boundaries, learning right from wrong
- youth can provide a safe outlet for the tensions the transition brings, allowing to "let off steam" and get any frustrations "out of their system"
30
what does ABRAMS say about youth culture? (f)
youth culture was created by the media, as youths started to have more spending power so were purposely targeted by business and the media
31
how has the functionalist view been criticised?
- they're generalising about youth culture as a whole, not accounting for individual subcultural differences between youths
- distinctions such as social class/gender not considered
- neo marxists focused on impact of social class when considering how ys formed
- feminists consider gender differences in expectations relating to males/females
32
what is the feminist view on youth subcultures?
- the role of girls in subcultures have been ignored by other theories
- as many researchers are male, was suggested they developed a rapport with their male subjects and found it harder to relate to teenage girls
- MCROBBIE+GARBER say girls were absent from most research, and only appeared to reinforce stereotypical views of girls
- they also argue girl's friendship groups are often very close knit, and girl's are important to study in their own right
33
how can we evaluate feminist theories?
- recent theories, e.g. postmodernism have developed, meaning gender is less significant and many current subcultures don't have any clear gender distinctions, so feminist views are less relevant
34
who are teddy boys? (ss)
- they emerged in the 1950's, and were often excluded from wealth as they hadn't done well in school and had dead end futures
- hung around cafe's in large groups, and wore Edwardian style jackets and bootlace ties
- the jackets symbolised them trying to be like their middle class superiors
- ties were like those worn by cowboys in western films, who they saw as cool role models
35
who are mods? (ss)
- they're wc, but more affluent
- style resistance against the wc
- males dressed in fishtail parkas and drove vespa scooters they adapted themselves
- they were influenced by music like soul/rhythm
- liked bands such as the kinks, the who
36
who are rockers? (ss)
- a subculture that came about in the 1960's
- wore black leather jackets and boots
- rode motorbikes and listened to rock and roll
- often unskilled, tended to be manual labourers
- sometimes referred to as bikers
37
who are skinheads? (ss)
- represent exaggerated wc men
- wore rolled up jeans, braces and big boots
- seen as macho, aggressive and racist
- felt that wc ID was under threat due to poor $ conditions and lack of jobs
- over exaggerated this ID to show resistance, and are linked to football hooliganism (which they used to mark their territory)
38
who are punks? (ss)
- they put ordinary objects together in a new way for their own fashion and ID, e.g. ripped clothes and piercings with safety pins
- punk emerged as a resistance against mainstream media/fashion industries that often told youth how to be
- it attracted wc, alienated youth and college students attracted to the energy of the subculture
- it had political elements: bands like the sex pistols sung about poverty and smashing the system
39
what to postmodernists believe about youth culture?
- subcultures have become increasingly fragmented and diverse
- youth styles are much more fluid and changeable, and mix things from many different sources
- they completely vary between ethnicity, gender and class divides
40
which ethnicity commits the most crime overall?
youths from white British backgrounds
41
which ethnicity is a disproportional number in the CJS?
african-caribbean youths
42
how do HO statistics support the view of ac youths being disproportionate?
- youths from black ethnic background were 21% youths in custody 2012, yet this ethnic background is less than 3% population
- black people were stop/searched 7x more than whites in 2009 and arrested 3.3 times more
43
what do HO statistics say about British Asians and crime?
- there has been an increase in crime rates
- 2009, asians were 5.6% population, 9.6% stop and searches and 7.1% prison population
- the largest rise for any ethnic group
44
what do patterns and trends in ethnicity and crime show?
- they show a discrepancy in the way black and white young offenders are dealt with in the CJS, which may not be solely based on offending behaviour
45
what do LEA+YOUNG state about statistics on ethnicity and crime?
- the statistics miss out that most UK crime is intra racial, and racially motivated crime is much rarer
- once this is understood, explanations for high rates of black criminality can be sought from within the black community, and issues such as street culture and poverty must be considered as explanations
46
what gender is most likely to be involved in crime?
young men
47
how does HO data support the view that young men commit the most crime?
- young men aged 10-17 were responsible for 20% of all police recorded crime in 2009, young women only 4%
48
how do self report studies contradict the view that young men commit the most crime?
- they suggest the difference isn't as great for adults as official statistics suggest
- official crime data suggests the peak age for female offending is 15, for males is 18
- girls seem to "grow out of it", but male offending rates don't decline significantly until well into their 20's
49
what evidence suggests female crime is increasing?
between 1994 and 2004, the number of women in prison in England/Wales increased by 150%
50
how did MUNCIE criticise the view that female crime is increasing?
- argues that small rises in recorded crime created a moral panic about female offending and "girl gangs", suggesting the rise in imprisonment of young women has been an overreaction
51
which social class is more likely to be involved in crime?
youths from a working class background
52
what evidence supports that wc youths are most likely to commit crime?
- youth charity Barnados found that children in the youth justice system are predominantly drawn from the poorest and most disadvantaged backgrounds
- JACOBSON'S study found multiple disadvantages and complex backgrounds in the majority of 200 young people in custody they sampled
53
define criminal subcultures:
- criminal subcultures can be defined as subcultures that are actively involved in criminal behaviour which may be quite organised, such as drug dealing and dealing in stolen goods
- not everyone has access to these
54
define spectacular youth subcultures:
spectacular youth subcultures can be defined as highly visible subcultures, recognised by their style and activities
- particularly studied by the CCCS
55
define delinquent subcultures:
- delinquent subcultures can be defined as subcultures involved in deviant behaviour, such as joyriding, vandalism and other anti-social behaviour which may not necessarily be criminal
- delinquency is a slightly old fashioned term used to refer to youth deviances
56
define gangs:
- a gang can be defined as a group of young people who regularly associate together
- it's a term more commonly used by the media and police to refer to a group who cause harm to the community and are involved in criminality
- violence is often a key element of the groups ID
- a gang will often have a name, territory, leader, hierarchy and a set of rules relating to membership
57
define anti school subcultures:
- anti school subcultures can be defined as a group of people who reject the n+v of school and reverse them (so it's seen as negative to do well academically)
- instead, they value trouble making, disruptive behaviour and poor grades
there are anti school sc (reject the value of school)
anti education sc (reject education/don't value academic success)
- so students can be anti school but pro education
58
which groups were studied by HALL+JEFFERSON in "resistance through rituals"?
teddy boys and skinheads
59
which groups were studied by HEBDIGE in "subculture-the meaning of style"?
punks and mods
60
explain BLAKE'S "magical symbolic solutions":
- the CCCS weren't positive of the outcome of their study
- their solutions on forming subcultures were "magical symbolic solutions" rather than practical, concrete solutions to the problems faced by wc youths
- being in the sc may have given youths a collective ID, feelings of strength and power and even made them feel like they were fighting back
- but eventually most would end up conforming to the adult world by submitting to society's social control and n+v
61
explain HEBDIGE'S "incorporation":
- he uses this term to describe how these rebellious styles are often taken over by the media and fashion industries and incorporated into the mainstream, so they loose their edge and element of rebellion
62
how does THORNTON challenge the CCCS and the significance of social class on youth sc?
- in her work on club cultures, she argued that because youths are largely exempt from adult financial commitments such as bills and rent, the vast majority (from whatever class background) enjoy disposable income and a short period of freedom from adult responsibilities to enjoy it
- so although she accepts youth unemployment/poverty are widespread, she argues that all but the very poorest can take part in club culture
63
explain online communities:
- sc come and go, and new types constantly appear
- whether online communities can be seen as sc is debated, but they do represent spaces where groups of youths interact and share experiences, finding a common set of n+v that differ from mainstream
- because they can be anonymous, some youths will share deviant feelings and express resistance/rebellion in a way they may not in real life
- will often be focused on a gender/ethnicity/political view, e.g. LAD BIBLE
- can also be fan based, e.g. lady gaga "little monsters"
64
what does ST JOHN say about "post rave techno tribes"? (pm)
- youths today lack the ID and resistance of previous generations
- techno tribes are groups of young people brought together through music festivals and social media
- these groups show resistance such as social justice and human rights
e. g. people who attend festivals, like Glastonbury
65
explain COHEN'S status frustration:
- within a subculture the deviant means to achieve society's goals often become the accepted norm
- teenage boys desire status, meaning respect from their peers
- he claims wc boys are aware of mainstream values and know they can lead to good status
- however, a wc boy that clings to these values may see himself as inferior to mc boys who are more academically successful, creating a feeling of "status frustration"
- a subculture may then see values such as agression as a way to gain status, and whoever is successful at these within their subculture can gain status in the eyes of their peers
66
what is MERTON'S strain theory?
- MERTON argued that individuals may experience a strain between what is said to be the goals/values of a society and what they can actually achieve
- this may lead to people tying to get these things illegitimately
- he didn't consider this a shared response that everyone will do, or apply it specifically to youth, but he said that it can explain some deviant behaviour
67
what are MILLER'S focal concerns?
- although seen as functionalist, he challenges the core idea of value consensus shared by all
- wc boys don't try to gain academic access as it's a mc value
- therefore wc values are different, they are "focal concerns" as they apply only to that social class
- they value freedom and excitement: being in trouble, tough and streetwise
68
what are CLOWARD+OHLIN'S 3 deviant subcultures?
- they saw deviance as a reaction to problems in achieving the values in mainstream culture: the deviant is unable to achieve goals legitimately, so uses illegitimate means
- just as some experience blocked opportunities to get goals through legal means (education), not everyone has the opportunity to achieve through legal means either
- the type of deviant sc that develops will depend on the illegal means available to them
- will be either: criminal, conflict or retreatist
69
how can we evaluate the functionalist view?
- gender biased, no girls
- not all wc youths are the same, many conform to society's n+v
- subcultures can form due to inequalities in society
- their view of wc culture is a sweeping generalisation
- wc subcultures are down to regional, ethnic and individual circumstances
- COHEN assumes wc boys are reacting to their own failure to achieving mainstream values
- MILLER disagrees, saying it's just to achieve their own values
70
explain COHEN'S study on "folk devils+moral panics":
- he examined media coverage of the mod/rocker clashes in the 1960's
- after an altercation, the media predicted more and went to those places in force to cover the predicted trouble
- he argued that the coverage was out of proportion to the incidents themselves
- he interviewed police/magistrates and studied media coverage, finding very different views on the same events
- due to media coverage, the public developed an exaggerated concern about the so called "problem", so therefore the media had created a moral panic about young people and turned the mods/rockers into folk devils (labelled as trouble makers/feared by police)
71
define a moral panic:
- a moral panic is an over exaggerated reaction among the public to a social issue which has been created and encouraged by the media
- will often center on a particular group of people (frequently youths) who are blamed for the social issue and turned into folk devils or scapegoats
- language/image used in media coverage and the frequency of stories can contribute to the development of moral panics
e. g. newspapers during the mods/rockers clash used terms such as "vermin", raising concerns about the future of the nation
72
explain deviancy amplification:
- this theory discusses the role of the media in strengthening deviance in society
- people go against n+v then media reports on them, magnifying the deviance
- this media response then heightens people's awarenesses, so as a result more people may engage in the deviant behaviour
- this deviancy amplification then creates a moral panic, as the media react in a way to the deviant group that makes them seem like a threat to social order (folk devils)
73
how does COHEN explain moral panics over time?
- moral panics were created from media responses on events such as the murder of Jamie Bulger, child abuse scandals and welfare cheats
the stages are:
- media sensationalise a story
- this results in public outcry
- this puts pressure on authorities to intervene/police to get involved
- social awareness of the problem can lead to more people doing it
74
what do GOODE+BEWN-YEHUDA say about moral panics over time?
- they reject COHEN'S idea, saying there is no clear beginning, middle or end
there are 5 stages:
1. public concern
2. hostility towards a group in the media
3. powerful agencies lead a campaign against a group
4. disproportionality (the reaction is out of proportion0
5. volatility (moral panics come and go quickly, interest on other issues)
75
what does FUNEDI say about moral panics over time?
- moral panics arise when society fails to adapt to social change and it feels like there's a loss of social control over powerless groups, e.g. the young
- they reflect wider concerns from older generations about the nature of society, they see them and their families at risk from things out of control
- the media makes people feel a sense of loss, so they're more vulnerable to believe the moral panics the media promotes
76
give sociological explanations of moral panics and deviancy amplification:
- MARXISTS say that moral panics are used as a form of social control to support capitalism - the media distracts from the real inequality and masks real issues
- COHEN says by studying moral panics we can "identity the lines of power in any society"
- NEO MARXISTS say it's important to see who has the power to define something as deviant, as this can explain why some groups are seen as folk devils and others not
- HALL'S study "policing the crisis" (marxist) says moral panics support capitalism as they take attention away from $ problems, allowing laws to pass that oppress groups who oppose capitalism
- in the UK, mugging caused a division between the black/white wc
- this study links to interactionism, as it shows how labelling can impact a specific group
- INTERACTIONISTS look at the process of labelling deviance, saying labelling can lead to groups being victimised as criminals, then the SFP
- they believe that the targeting of certain. groups by agents of social control, e.g. police, can lead to deviancy amplification
77
what do DECKER+VAN WINKLE say about joining gangs?
- reasons for joining gangs consist of pull/push factors
pulls: the attractiveness of a gang, as memberships can give status and provide money making opportunities for wc youths
pushes: come from social/economic/cultural disadvantages. Feelings of exclusion can push underclass youths towards the status/ID that gangs can provide for them
- closeness of relationships that gangs offer may provide the sense of safety/support that's missing from a young person's life
- fear of violence and need for protection can also push youths into gangs
78
what does WHITE say about gangs?
gangs tend to be linked to poverty and social exclusion, as they give security to vulnerable groups and help them cope with their poor environments
79
what did HARDING say about gangs?
- he compared gangs he studied in London to a casino
- said gangs were a social arena of competition, where members struggle for status/survival
- he spoke about social capital, and said that when people get and retain street cred, it's like collecting chips in a casino
80
what does SEWELL say about anti school sc + ethnicity?
- for black males, the culture of the streets is anti education, valuing style and seeing education as feminine
- a successful black male would be bullied, whereas educational failure becomes a badge to wear with pride
- he identified 4 visible groups: conformists, innovators, retreatists and rebels
- the majority of black boys were actually conformist, but it was the minority of rebels that got all the attention and created the negative stereotypes
81
what does MIRZA say about anti school sc + ethnicity?
- identified a pro-education attitude among African-caribbean girls
- the girls she studied resented teacher labels, racism and the expectations they would fail, so adopted a "strategic rationalisation" of what they saw to be wasteful lesson time
- adopted strategies to maximise their chances of success, by keeping their heads down and getting on with their work
- when teachers used patronising strategies to enter the girls into fewer subjects, they would seek advice from other sources and avoid subjects with racist teachers
- she didn't see this as a form of resistance, but a rational response to their negative school experience
82
what did ARCHER say about anti school sc and ethnicity?
- he considered muslim boys and how they demonstrated their masculine and religious ID in peer groups, whilst constantly fighting islamophobia and the demonisation of muslim males in the media
- they saw their ID as muslim, not Pakistani, but also knew that being a member of their subculture gave them protection from other racial groups and racist bullying
83
what did STRAND+WINSTON say about anti school sc and ethnicity?
- negative peer relationships were significant in the underachievement of African-Caribbean boys, whereas for white boys, underachievement was more related to low self esteem and lack of parental aspirations
- they found that asian boys tended to have positive peer support, and some seemed genuinely surprised when asked whether their friends would laugh at them for doing well in school
84
explain MACANGHAIL'S study "young, gifted and black":
- studied black youth in inner city schools and suggested that social class and gender intersect with racism and racial stereotypes, creating different responses among groups of young people
- young African males developed subcultures based on very masculine images, as a response to perceived teacher labelling and racism
examples of these subcultures:
rasta heads: their resistance involved open confrontation with teachers
warriors: an asian male subculture, anti school and showed resistance. however it was more covert and went largely unnoticed by teachers who didn't see them as troublemakers
the black sisters: asian/african-caribbean girls, pro education and just saw school as a means to an end to achieve what they knew they needed, despite perceiving racism from teachers. Therefore, they confused their teachers by showing open defiance in some lessons but still working hard
85
explain ALEXANDER'S study on deviant subcultures:
- studied bengali youths in inner city London in the wake of a moral panic about "the asian gang", following the northern England riots
- they were often involved in fighting amongst themselves and other ethnic groups
- memberships and allegiances were constantly shifting, so the "gang was often fragile"
- however, the myth of the asian gang was created through the media after the riots and fuelled by general islamophobia
- stereotypes were picked up by teachers, who projected the gang label onto groups of friends who shared an ethnicity/common ID, and chose to stick together, even if they weren't part of a gang
86
explain NIGHTINGALE'S study on delinquent subcultures:
- studied young black males in Philadelphia, argued they consume mainstream US culture through media like anyone else
- however, they were excluded racially/$ from achieving shared values (e.g money), so they turn to illegitimate means to achieve them
87
explain the center for social justice report and how it links to NIGHTINGALE'S study:
- challenges the idea that gang's are associated with ethnic minorities, and instead gang members reflect the ethnicity of the local population
- the high proportion of gang members in the UK reflects the high presence of black communities in deprived neighbourhoods
- the 2 studies show a paradox of inclusion: the desire to be included by being successful is difficult for those suffering from poverty/racism, so they turn to deviance, which guarantees exclusion
88
explain BOURGOIS' study on criminal subcultures:
- studied latino drug dealers in New York and found an "anguish of growing up poor" in the richest city in the world created inner city street cultures, where deviant practices became the norm
- saw it as understandable that they might ask why they should take the subway to minimum wage job when a million dollar industry like drug dealing was on their doorsteps
89
what did MESSERSCHMIDT state about delinquent boys?
- a gang acts as a location for "doing masculinity", which has to be accomplished and proved
90
how does HARDING develop MESSERSCHMIDT'S ideas?
- he suggests that how masculinity is made depends on the social field a young male is in
- without access to paid employment, a traditional masculinity source, they will find other ways to achieve masculinity
91
what does CAMPBELL argue about delinquent boys?
- by abandoning certain communities the state has created the most extreme forms of masculinity, by denying access to legitimate masculine status through academic success, employment and being the breadwinner
- therefore deviance, especially violence/anti social behaviour, become the key means to express masculinity
92
what are some challenges against the idea of delinquent boys?
- focusing on this type of masculinity ignores the fact that other types exist
- MARXISTS say this blames wc, powerless males when more powerful, older men show dominance/violence too
- when martial arts fighter SHAUN MCNEIL killed a teenager with 1 punch, it sparked a debate about male violence in which alcohol was blamed
93
how does CONNELL reject the idea of delinquent boys?
- rejects biological explanations, like hormones, and says we must look into why men get themselves into confrontations
- rather than blaming alcohol, we must look at what else is happening in their lives, e.g. no secure jobs, worthwhile work or positive role models
94
what does evidence show about delinquent girls?
evidence shows that deviance and offending peaks and declines earlier for girls than boys
95
what does HEIDENSOHN say about delinquent girls? (feminist)
- focuses on social control, saying girls are controlled more in terms of behaviour with their peers and by their family
e. g. how long they can leave the house for
- also controlled by idea that their place is in the domestic sphere and fear of being out alone after dark
- control can prevent girls from committing crime
96
what does HEIDENSOHN mean by "double deviant"?
girls are going against not only the laws in society, but against femininity too
97
what does KLEIN believe about girls in gangs?
girls in gangs commit equally violent acts as their male counterparts
98
what do PEARCE+PITTS estimate about girls in gangs?
they estimate that 12,500 young women and girls are involved in gangs
99
what does HARDING believe about girls in gangs?
- he believes that they use their social skills to carve their role in a gang
- they become "fixers", hiding weapons and trading info
- violence/sexual violence is common to "keep females in line"
- there is an increasing number of girls in UK gangs, but this doesn't mean an increase in agressive females
- research shows many of these gangs are victims of sexual exploitation
100
what did the Centre for Social Justice find about delinquent girls?
- gangs commonly use sexual exploitation and rape to control girls/young women
- sometimes male gang members as young as 10 are forced to perform rape as their initiation
- they found a case study of a 13 year old girl involved in sexual exploitation who groomed her 10 year old sister for the same purpose
101
what did MACANGHAILL find about anti school sc and gender?
- identified a male sc called "the macho lads", who valued the 3 f's
- they showed extreme forms of macho behaviour (hegemonic masculinity) as a form of resistance to the threat of their masculine ID
- found evidence that they bullied academic achievers and had a clear anti-school subculture
102
what did ARCHER+YAMASHITA find about anti school sc and gender?
- found in inner city London that boys showed anti school/education n+v
- they had a "bad boy" image, and saw academic achievement as "soft"
- they were committed to staying local, but recognised local areas as unsafe
- they knew that you had to be tough to survive, and felt vulnerable to attack if they left their local area
- their sc was their backup and being a member was a key part of "doing masculinity" within the male peer group
103
explain JACKSON'S study on laddishness behaviour:
- he found some evidence of anti school subcultures
- it was cool to be clever and not work hard
- "ladette" culture included smoking, swearing and acting "hard"
- as a result, white wc girls were underachieving
104
explain BLACKMAN'S study on a female anti-education sc:
- the New Wave Girls were a high profile, academic and resistant youth subculture
- they were defined by their music tastes/appearance (punk, Doc Martens)
- he said their subculture was based on resistance related to their gender
- they resisted the regime by adapting school uniform and challenging the rules, yet they were academic and valued education
105
what did THORNTON say about ys and gender?
- girls have less disposable income, married earlier and earn less than their male counterparts
- girls are more invested in doing well at school instead of going out like boys
- this leads to a difference in "subcultural capital", and girls accepted their lack of this
- she argued mainstream culture is looked down on by those with sc capital, and when a style moves from being hip to mainstream, it becomes feminised
- acid house/rave culture lost its status when some raves became legal, and the scene was branded by "techno Traceys", dancing around their handbags
- this shows that things that are associated with females are seen as less acceptable
106
what do MCROBBIE+GARBER say about ys and gender?
- they're critical of the CCCS for ignoring girls
- they look at the "mod girl", who paid attention to her appearance and smartness
- male mods aren't macho, so the female mod scene was more visible than other sc
- in the 50's girls were still restricted by expectations of marriage, less freedom and social control
- they argued that the early 70's "teeny bopper" sc was based around girls bedrooms
- girls would try on makeup/hairstyles
- this could also be seen as a form of resistance, as anxiety causes girls to make close friendship groups: this shows invisibility as they spend time at home
107
what did MCROBBIE say about ys and gender?
- change is the focus of magazines for teenage girls, which shifted from romance to a more self confident sexuality
- recognises the way that girls are active in using magazines, critiquing or laughing rather than passively accepting their content
- considers the intersection of gender with ethnicity when discussing "raga" girls, who use music to dance in a sexually explicit way, ridiculing male sexism
- the lyrics are sexist, but they challenge the message of the music and reclaim their sexuality
108
what did REDDINGTON say about ys and gender?
- there have been very active females in spectacular subcultures, such as Vivienne Westwood in punk
- punk sc involved females from the beginning, based on its egalitarian ethos
- punk was also an outlet for resistance for many young women who didn't want to get married
- female performers weren't taken seriously, they were called punkettes and judged by their physical appearance much more than male punk performers
109
Explain YOUNG’S sociology of vindictiveness:
- he developed the idea of blocked opportunities to explain underclass youth crime
- he ignored the new right view of the underclass, saying that we live in a BULIMIC SOCIETY, a culture where people are encouraged to worship money, status and success, but many are excluded from achieving these
- underclass feel the intensity of exclusion: when they feel resentment, humiliation and anger as they’re so deprived and have no economic security
- deviance is therefore an emotional response to rebellion, risk taking, anger and frustration, which is driven by a strong desire and wish for inclusion
110
What do DECKER+VAN WINKLE say about gangs?
- reasons for joining gangs consist of push and pull factors
pulls: the attractiveness of a gang, give status, excitement and money making opportunities to working class youths
pushes: people come from social, economic and cultural disadvantages
- feelings of exclusion can push underclass youths to the status and identity that gangs can provide
- the closeness of relationships gangs offer can provide safety/support
- the fear of violence and need for protection may push also
111
what does WHITE say about gangs?
gangs tend to be linked to poverty and social exclusion as they give security to vulnerable groups and helps them cope with their poor environments
112
explain HARDING’S study “the street casino”:
- compares gangs he studied in London to a casino
- gangs were a “social arena of competition”, where members struggle for status and survival
- he spoke about “social capital”, and said that when people get and retain street cred, it’s like collecting lots of chips in a casino
113
what did BROWN say about education and youths?
he identified 3 possible responses amongst education to wc youths:
1. Getting in - for low achievers who wanted to join manual occupations
2. Getting out - high achievers who want to use education to prove their social class
3. Getting on - working class boys that just get on with it and obey the rules
114
what did MACANGHAIL find about youths responses to schools?
he found there were a number of fluid groups with different responses to school
Ordinary lads: uninterested and not academic
Academic achievers: they work hard
Macho lads: anti school, and called those who did well at school “dickhead achievers”
115
explain WILLIS’ study: learning to labour
- he studied wc Birmingham boys, and saw that lads saw themselves as failures, but turned this into something good
- in school they were “having a laff”, with the same attitudes in factories, trying to get one over on their supervisor
- school prepared them for work perfectly
116
what do postmodernists say about youth subcultures?
- postmodernists argue youth subculture has become increasingly fragmented and diverse
- youth styles are much more fluid and changeable and mix things from many different sources
- youth subcultures completely vary, crossing over ethnic, gender and class divides
