Social class and deviant subcultures

Question 1

What does Young say about social class and youth deviance?

Criminal/delinquent subcultures and gangs

Answer 1

• We live in a bulimic society, in which people are encouraged to worship moeny, status and success
• Working class deviance is an emotional response, stemming from social exclusion from achieving these thing
• Sociology of vindicitiveness (acting deviant due to harm inflicted upon w/c youth by society, i.e. exclusion)

Question 2

What does Harding say about social class and youth deviance?

Criminal/delinquent subcultures and gangs

Answer 2

• Gangs are a social arena of competition, in which members struggle for distinction, status, position and survival
• Success is determined by ‘street capital’ (worth)
• Gangs are likened to a casino- world of winners and losers, rules change regularly, players are encouraged to keep playing despite meagre rewards

Question 3

What do Decker and Van Winkle say about social class and youth deviance?

Link between gang membership and social deprivation

Answer 3

• The reasons for joining gangs consists of ‘pulls’ and ‘pushes’
• Pulls include: attractiveness of the gang, money-making opportunities
• Pushes include: social, economic and cultural disadvantages

Question 4

What does White say about social class and youth deviance?

Link between gang membership and social deprivation

Answer 4

• Gangs are linked to the underclass conditions, such as poverty and social exclusion
• Gangs provide members with social inclusion, support, security and provide a coping mechanism for deprived youths

Question 5

What does Brown say about social class and youth deviance?

Anti-school subcultures

Answer 5

• There are 3 responses to education from a w/c perspective:
  1) Getting in (low achievers who want to join manual occupations)
  2) Getting out (high achievers who want to use education to improve their social position)
  3) Getting on (oridnary w/c youths who complied with demands and rules of school)

Question 6

What does Willis say about social class and youth deviance?

Anti-school subcultures

Answer 6

• W/C lads saw themselves as academic failures
• Bullied those who tried in school and did well, and spend time messing around and being ‘macho’
• Knew they would get factory jobs like their fathers did

Question 7

What does Mac an Ghaill say about social class and youth deviance?

Anti-school subcultures

Answer 7

• There are a number of fluid groups with different responses to school:
  1) Ordinary lads (non-academic and indifferent to school)
  2) Academic achievers (pro-school and hard working)
  3) Macho lads (form anti-school subculture, value acting tough, saw academic work as effeminate)