cloward and ohlin

Question 1

what do they mention?

Answer 1

they mention that there is a legitimate opportunity structure and an illegitimate opportunity structure

The illegitimate opportunity structure is available through gang membership and the legitimate opportunity structure is accepting the social means to achieve social goals

Question 2

more that they mention

Answer 2

Not everyone can easily engage in criminal activity. Those who cant be rich through hard work and qualifications, we cannot assume they will turn to crime.

For example, there may already be existing criminal subculture in someones area, whilst in others there may not be, indicating that not all poeple turn to criminal path if cant achieve wealth

Question 3

Criminal subculture

Answer 3

Where criminal can socialise the youth into their own criminal career to achieve material success

Question 4

Conflict subculture

Answer 4

gangs organised by young people themselves, often based on claiming territory from other gangs in “turf wars”

Question 5

Retreatist subculture

Answer 5

those who are unable to access legitimate or illegitimate opportunity structures, may just drop out all togther in a group, rather then individually, may abuse drugs

Question 6

How are cloward and ohlin critisied?

Answer 6

One criticism is that most criminal gangs have elements from one or more subcultures. Drug use plays a part in criminal gangs, whilst “turf wars” are often linked to organised crime, such as drug dealing, showing that it is not clear that they have defined 3 distinct subcultures

another criticism is they do not tackle broader issues into social class and gender