Sociology Unit 1B - Youth Subcultures

teddy boys, recreate sense of community after immigration, delinquent subculture

outlaw capitalism, opportunity to be paid, linked with working class

deviant behaviours stemming from stereotypical masculine dominance

punks statement against consumerism

assumptions about IQ dependent on gender, ethnicity and social class

justice can be negotiated based on class or status

the street, seen as more accessible way to seek validation than school

youth interested in transgression, not class or politics

culture of resistance, politics surround race, crime as political act

continuation of struggle against white slave owners, families of rastafarians immigrants

cultural appropriation, devalues highly meaningful symbolism

white wannabes, cultural appropriation

criminal subcultures to make living, conventional means are blocked, 3 types of subculture: criminal, conflict, retreatist

underclass feel unable to succeed, transmitted from parents

rise in m/c class crime, absent parenting causes deviance

however, demonization of the w/c, justify privileged position

however, aspiration of media role models and lack of socialisation, hyper masculinity leads to deviance

intense relationships within domestic sphere, distinct YSC

rebellious YSC emerge as response of liberation of women, naturally assertive/independent, traits of crime

neo-tribes not politically motivated, weak sense of commitment, individualism within punks

social media allows to gain subcultural capital, disenfranchisement of YSC, rebel against inequalities, undermines individualism

however, media exaggerates crime not creates it, reality shouldn't be reduced to media construction

counter-school culture, saw pleasure as most important in a workplace, reject capitalism in a semi-class consciousness

lack of female gangs, overwhelmingly male focussed

chivalry thesis, police more lenient to women

working class likely to join rebellious youth, resist ruling class oppression

Jack Wills, anxiety to maintain status in growing mix of social class

outlaw capitalism, join gangs for money and sense of structure

higher crime rates from inadequate socialisation, single parent households

development of identity during youth, supervised risk taking to create stable adults

gangs functional defence mechanism, opportunity to gain status within gang

politics central to race, organised culture of resistance

hybrid identities in south london, transitional stage to construct new identity, cultural borrowing, inter-racial relationships

young, black women being pro-school despite being marginalised

ladettes, girls as rebellious as boys

state of anomie, breakdown of social order or personal control

status frustration, invert values, gain status within own hierarchies

distinct underclass, inadequate parenting and lack of moral values, crime and hostility towards authority

predisposition to aggressiveness, criminal characteristics and welfare dependency

welfare dependency undermines people's sense of commitment to work, pregnant youth irresponsible and should cut benefits

women friendship groups form YSC based on values, not class, ethnicity, etc.

youthfulness is a personal quality

centred around withdrawal from family and parental control

values vary little from their parents, conformist and conservative

three types of transition, e.g. abrupt, gradual and lengthy

non-utilitarian violence used as a way into gangs

link of working class and status frustration, use delinquency to develop status not found elsewhere, invert traditional school values (bad behaviour and academic failure)

punks study, reject dominant hegemonic values

hippies study, reject mainstream consumer culture

hyper heterosexuality in schools, exclusively male groups

girls in gangs as fixers

illegitimate opportunity structure, pressure to deviate from mainstream, earn money in capitalist society

nerd masculinity, online world masculinity

bedroom culture, segregated from boys

women have distinct, secretive norms than men

Russian protest group, highly politically involved women, radical femenists

subcultural identity based on role allocation

deviant label more likely for ethnic minority groups, 2001 Oldham riots

lower class boys try to emulate middle class, status frustration as don't have the means

poverty of aspiration, few extra-curricular

cultural borrowing, positive, hybridity

modern primitives, youth feel connected to tribal culture, tattoos and scarification

youth have allocated roles, lower income and status allocated due to limited experience

pulls and pushes in joining gangs, gaining status vs marginalised/disadvantages

however, focus on 'white collar crimes', tax evasion more costly to state than benefits claimants

invented marxism

deviant YSC are politically motivated, challenge class inequality, reject cultural hegemony

political domination by ruling class is challenged by w/c youth

criticises assumptions that punks are w/c, often m/c art students

moral panic about crime of mugging, exaggerated public concern, manipulate populations with distractions from 'real issues'

moral panic disproportional to extent of crime, media saturation, no evidence of increase in crime

crimes intra-racial, social class exclusion, romanticising race?

critical regarding lack to apparent presence of women in punks, sub-subcultures, patriarchal beliefs

however, oppressed women deviate most, 80% women in prison suffer child abuse, sexual abuse or lived in care

skating YSC surround hobby, status based on skill level

youth have individualised approach, clubbing culture merge different groups, bond with music taste

however, disregard politically active YSC, ravers oppose making them illegal

supermarket of style, hybrid and fluid YSC, limited choice due to media - incorporation

white wannabes, young w/c white men adopting black culture

YSC based on pleasure of transgression/misbehaviour, sexual metaphor for deviancy, shared positive experience

labelling theory, process of labelling/self-fulfilment, 'moral entrepreneurs' create laws that aim to criminalise youth

high status have ability to reject labels/negotiate crime

however, must be reason for labels being applied to certain groups initially, seen as incomplete theory

labelling theory to explain crime, negative treatment against criminal justice systems, hostility towards police, self-fulfilling prophecy

studied societal reactions to Clacton disturbances 1964, media provide distorted picture of deviant YSC, moral panic of 'folk devils' and public concern - deviancy amplification spiral

however, media representation reflects public concern, tabloid press read by working class who are victims of violent crimes