12: Marxist and Neo Marxist Explanation for deviancy

Question 1

why do marxists say that working class youth are more likely to commit delinquent acts?

Answer 1

due to their marginalised place in society (lack of jobs, education and money)

Question 2

what do marxists see delinquency as?

Answer 2

a disguised form of protest from the working class against capitalism. capitalist system creates class and status inequalities.

Question 3

what is the most likely delinquent act?

Answer 3

stealing, graffiti, vandalism to express frustration

Question 4

which working class subculture showed protest?

Answer 4

skinheads

Question 5

what is the scapegoat theory

Answer 5

-delinquency isnt a challenge for the capitalist system
-delinquency is only a nuisance for society
-aimed at easy targets who are often blamed eg ethnic minorities
-wc youth should blame politicians rather than picking on others eg skinheads shouldnt focus on ethnic minorities

Question 6

Marxist Theory Evaluation

Answer 6

(-). too much emphasis on spectacular subcultures outdated
(-) Hobbs: skinheads were more into fashion than solving class struggle
(-) class division isn’t tat visible amongst ordinary youth
(-) Feminists: ignore female subcultures

Question 7

What do Neo Marxist say about youth and deviancy

Answer 7

-from CCCS
-deviant behaviour of young males as resistance against society’s control
-identity being threatened in relation to territory

Question 8

Neo-Marxist Theory on youth deviancy: Lea and Young

Answer 8

Marginalisation: pushed to edge of society due to lack of opportunities
Relative Deprivation: compare themselves to others and feel more deprived
Subculture: form subculture as a result that could tend to deviancy

Question 9

Evaluation of Neo Marxist Theory on Youth Deviancy

Answer 9

(-) feminists: ignore role of gender. generalised youth; not all youth are part of a subculture
(+) more contemporary than marxist ideas. can help to explain modern crime such as theft
(+) Interactionists and Labelling Theory

Question 10

hegemony

Answer 10

ruling class maintains dominance over subordinate class

Question 11

gramsci and hegemony

Answer 11

youth fooled into thinking society is fair and works in their favour. youth resist and form subcultures hat go against cultural capital e.g skinheads not doing jobs

Question 12

Barthes and Semiology

Answer 12

semiology = study of signs
-youth culture work against dominant ideology of capitalist class eg hair dress are symbolic to show resistance

Question 13

bricolage

Answer 13

subcultures borrow, redefine and use styles and symbol from cultural groups other than their own