Social class and deviant youth subcultures

Question 1

What does Jock Young say about his study on Bulimic society ?

Answer 1

• on one side we are told yo worshio money and status
• lots of lower class are excluded
• talks about the intensiity of exclusion - most felt by the underclass
• working class use deviance as an emotional response to social exclusion

Question 2

What does Harding say about his study on the street casino ?

Answer 2

• harding conducted a study in south London
• Gangs are seen as a social arena of competition
• this is where members struggle for status etc
• success is determind by street capital ( says its like the accumulation of chips in a casino

Question 3

What do Decker and Van Winkle say about the pushes and pulls of gangs ?

Answer 3

Pulls = attractiveness of gangs (can earn lots of money, gives status)
Pushes = social and economic disadvantages at home, the want for security and stringer relationships

Question 4

What does White discuss about the links between gangs and social deprivation ?

Answer 4

• finds that gangs are based in underclass conditions
• says gangs provide social inclusion, support and security
• They allow young people to cope with oppressing environments

Question 5

What does Paul Willis discuss in his Learning to labour study ?

Answer 5

• looked at boys in Birmingham
• nicknamed them the ‘lads’
• had very few aspirations and didn’t want to succeed in school
• They knew they were going to work at the same factory there dads did so didn’t need or want any qualifications

Question 6

What was Mac en Ghails study about Parnell school ?

Answer 6

3 types of lads:
1. Ordinary lads - not academic but didn’t misbehaved
2. Academic achievers - pro school
3. Macho lads - formed anti-school subcultures where they valued acting tough

Question 7

What did Brown say about anti-school subcultures ?

Answer 7

Getting in = low achievers who wanted manual jobs
Getting out = high achievers who wanted to improve social position
Getting on: ordinary working class boys who just complied

Question 8

What are the evaluative points of social class theories ?

Answer 8

• Willis’ study has been seen as outdated
• Mcdonald and Marsh say they still agree with Willis’ research