Concepts Flashcards
Youth
Period of life between childhood and adulthood, although some sociologists consider it a state of mind in the debate of whether a 25 year old is a youth still
Peer group
Set of people belonging to a similar age group who share similar norms and values. They are important in establishing culture and identities
Reasons for Youth Subcultures
Style, music, changing identities, rite of passage, resisting norms and oppression. Hodkinson (2004) found the importance of music in Gothic subculture
Demographic trends
After WW2 there was a baby boom because the returning soldiers were horny as were their wives so they had sex , a lot most likely and produced a lot of babies that turned into teenagers in the 60’s were subcultures became very prominent.
Schooling
Legal school leaving age was prolonged after the war because of the rise in youth population. Rising the leaving age keeps unemployment statistics down and further educates the future work force. The individuals also have more time to socialise with peers.
The Media
Thornton (1995) argues that the media are largely responsible for the creation of youth subcultures. MTV is directly aimed at youth audience
Globalisiation
Teddy boys took a lot of their fashion from America. Globalisation plays a significant role in the formation of hybrid subcultures
Consumption
Companies target youth because they have money to spend on consumer goods and leisure pursuits as they do not have mortgages to pay or other bills whilst many have part time jobs and obtain money from their parents
Style
Can clearly define a youth subculture and is usually prioritised in identity of many subcultures
Hybrid subcultures
Raggamuffins. The mixing of two or more subcultures usually between two different ethnically based subcultures. Eminim has incorporated black rap music into popular and white culture
Crime
Criminal offence which breaks the written law
Deviant
Behaviour that goes against the norms of society
Delinquecy
Term associated with criminal or anti-social behaviour in youth
Dark figure
Possibly up to 90% of crimes are unreported
BCS
British Crime Survey - peak age for offending for males is 18 and for females is 15. 50% of all youth crime is theft and 15% is for violence against an individual. 80% of offenders are male. Crime rate in youth has been dropping. Young black males have the highest rates of crime.
