Social Class

Question 1

What did the CCCS suggest?

Answer 1

• Social class and feelings of deprivation and frustration are what lead young people to form subcultures and that different economic situations can explain the differences between them.
• They saw youth subcultures as a form of ‘resistance’ to the capitalist system and against their social class deprivation.
• Their dedication to fashion, music, and attitude was the way in which they expressed their resistance - through spectacular subcultures.

Question 2

What does Young state?

Answer 2

• The underclass feel an ‘intensity of exclusion’ where they feel resentment, humiliation, and anger as they are so deprived and have no economic security.
• Deviance is seen as an emotional response to social exclusion.

Question 3

What does Decker argue?

Answer 3

• The reason for joining gangs consists of both ‘pull’ and ‘push’ factors.
• The ‘pulls’ are about the attractiveness of a gang.
• The ‘pushes’ may come from social, economic, and cultural disadvantages.
• Feelings of exclusion can push youths from the underclass towards status and identity that gangs can provide for them instead.

Question 4

What did Paul Willis study?

Answer 4

• Studied an all-boys school in Birmingham and focused on working class lads.
• He found the ‘lads’ saw themselves as failures but turned this around to be a good thing.
• Boys spent most of their time at school ‘having a laff’, mucking around and being cheeky.
• They all knew they would be getting jobs in local factories like their dads, so did not share the school’s value on education, as they did not see it as necessary.
• Willis followed them up when they were in the factory and found their attitudes were the same there, messing around and trying to get over on their supervisor, suggesting school prepared them perfectly for work.