Deviant subcultures and social class

Question 1

Criminal/delinquent subcultures and gangs- previous theories explain w/c youth delinquency

Class

Answer 1

• A Cohen- the ‘desire for status’ is likely to be harder for those of w/c backgrounds with legitimate means
• Cloward and Ohlin- w/c youths experience blocked opportunities

Question 2

What does Young say about deviant subcultures?

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Answer 2

• Bulimic society: embrace throwaway consumer culture, encouraged to consistently seek out latest products

Question 3

What does Presdee say about youth deviance?

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Answer 3

• ‘The carnival of crime’- risk involved with delinquent subcultures is appealing. Carnival is a place to ‘let off steam’ and transgress from norms

Question 4

The links between gang membersship and social deprivation

Class

Answer 4

• Decker and Van Winkle- pushes and pulls of gangs:
• Pulls= attractive, provides excitement, money-making opportunities
• Pushes= social economic and cultural disadvantages, marginalisation, exclusion, dysfunctional background

Question 5

What does Moore say about youth deviance?

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Answer 5

• A small number have no choice in membership:
• Born into gangs/parental involvement

Question 6

What does White say about youth deviance?

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Answer 6

• Gangs provide a sense of social inclusion, support and security
• Allows youths to cope with their oppression and marginalisation

Question 7

Anti-school subcultures and social class

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Answer 7

• Form amongst pupils, so ‘protect self-esteem’
• Protect from a ‘fear of failure’
• A form of resistance against school authority
• Outcome likely to have an effect on academic achievment

Question 8

What does Willis say about youth deviance in ‘Learning to Labour’?

Class

Answer 8

• Studied w/c anti-school subculture
• ‘Lads’ saw themselves as school failures
• Spent most time ‘having a laff’
• Lack the value of education, knew they would follow in their father’s footsteps

Question 9

What does Brown say about youth deviance?

Class

Answer 9

There is disagreement about distinct anti-school subcultures:
- Getting in- low achievers who want to join manual occupations
- Getting out- high achievers who use education to improve their social position
- Getting on- Ordinary w/c youths who got on with it and complied to school rules

Question 10

What does Mac an Ghaill say about youth deviance?

Class

Answer 10

Found a number of ‘fluid’ groups in school:
- Ordinary lads (not very academic, indifferent to school)
- Academic achievers (very pro-school, hard working)
- Macho lads (form anti-school subcultures, saw academic work as effeminate, value acting tough)

Question 11

What does Mac an Ghail say about the ‘macho lads’

Class

Answer 11

Male subcultures who rejected mainstream values and replaced them with the 3 F’s:
- Football
- Fighting
- F**ing

Question 12

What does Frosh say about youth deviance?

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Answer 12

• Academic achievement was seen as ‘feminine’ by low-achieving boys

Question 13

What do Archer and Yamashita say about youth deviance?

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Answer 13

• W/C males saw academic achievement as ‘soft’ and a potential excuse for homophobic bullying
• Formation of anti-school subculture/ hyper-heterosexual subcultures

Question 14

What do O’Connell and Sharpe say about youth deviance?

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Answer 14

• Predicted the disappearance of ‘cocksure’ attitude towards employment prospect that Willis’ lads showed

Question 15

What do MacDonald and Marsh say about youth deviance?

Class

Answer 15

Study of w/c youths which showed:
- Young people reject academic success
- Believe teachers were not bothered
- Felt it was no good to try hard due to peer pressure