Youth Subcultures Flashcards
1
Q
define spectacular subcultures:
A
spectacular subcultures can be defined as highly visible subcultures, mainly studied at Birmingham University
2
Q
explain Rastafarians:
A
- associated with Jamaican/caribbean culture, reggae music and dreadlocks
- smoking marijuana is associated with Rastas and seen as part of their religion (helps them reach a higher level of spirituality)
3
Q
what did HEBDIGE say about Rastas?
A
- he saw this culture as forms of resistance to white culture and racism with roots in slavery
- many were attracted to Britain as it offered a positive identity and opposition to racism they experienced
4
Q
explain Brasians:
A
- fusion between asian/british culture
- young British asians refuse to accept a subordinate place in society, and want to celebrate their culture by making it more fashionable
5
Q
what does JOHAL say about brasians?
A
- he says some brasians adopted a “hyper-ethnic” style and exaggerated their parents culture (watching hindi films, listening to asian music)
- this gave them “empowerment through difference”
- however, issues like religion/diet may lead to brasians being selective on what they want to follow
- known as “code switching”, where they move from one culture to another depending on what they saw as most appropriate
6
Q
are brasians resistance or hybridity?
A
- although Rastas are resistance, brasians show more hybridity by blending aspects of their parent’s culture with British popular culture
- however, by hanging onto some of their traditional culture, this could be seen as a form of resistance (as they’re resisting to assimilate into white British culture)
7
Q
what does MERCER stay about hairstyles?
A
- spoke about the styling of hair within black culture and its symbolic meaning
- afro/dreadlocks part of black ID (resistance)
- straightened hairstyles imitating white culture (integrating)
- however, MERCER says this is a very simple explanation, all hairstyles can be forms of hybridity
8
Q
explain ethnocentric sociologists:
A
a criticism of functionalists, feminists and the CCCS is that they don’t consider the impact of race/ethnicity on youth subcultures
9
Q
what does HEBDIGE say about ethnocentric sociologists?
A
- there is a clear relationship between black styles of dress, music and dance, but this isn’t explored any further
- therefore, sociologists are accused of being ethnocentric
- studies in the US have been less “white focused” and considered hip hop and gangsta rap as subcultures
- however, these studies were done by black sociologists
10
Q
explain white wannabes: (hybrid sc)
A
- NAYAK identified “white wannabes”, young wc males who adopt the style/language of black culture
- listen to hip hop, wear lots of bling and dress in a style associated with black males
- example: Ali G
11
Q
explain modern primitives: (hybrid sc)
A
- subculture found in us/Western Europe, often described as a Neo tribe
- wide but loose membership, focus more on individuality
- have body modifications (tattoos) as a way of expression
12
Q
what do VALE+JUNO say about modern primitives? (hybrid sc)
A
- these body modifications are a reaction to the sense of powerlessness created by living in a fast changing world, as it gives a sense of power and control can be regained
13
Q
explain cultural exchange and appropriation (hybrid sc)
A
- hybridity in youth sc can be seen as positive, leading to more understanding between different ethnic groups
- can be seen as a form of cultural exchange
- however, can also be viewed as negative
- taking aspects of other ethnic cultures into white sc is a form of “cultural appropriation”
- example: tattoo’s/piercing in modern primitives
- popularity of chinese letters/dreadlocks criticised as forms of exploitation and disrespect
14
Q
what does HUTNYK say about cultural exchange/appropriation? (hybrid sc)
A
- western sc may strip the meaning from symbols and use them in a superficial way
- idea of “cultural exchange” suggests a 2 way process, but is it actually one sided?
- for example, it could be said aspects of British culture have been imposed onto other cultures, whereas aspects of other cultures have been taken by British subcultures without any “exchange” taking place
15
Q
how do the new right explain deviant subcultures?
A
- youths in deviant subcultures haven’t received the correct socialisation to accept the value consensus held by the majority of society
- they’re seen to have different, deviant n+v
- MURRAY says the underclass don’t want to work and depend on the welfare system, seeing it as an acceptable lifestyle choice
- in MURRAY’S analysis, the entire underclass can be seen as a deviant sc, but it is particularly among youth through gangs and anti-school sc
16
Q
what does MURRAY state about single parent families and their impact on deviant ys?
A
- boys growing up w/o fathers can explain high crime rates of male youths in deprived areas
- they grow up unsocialised, have poor impulse control and become sexual predators
- girls w/o fathers can be emotionally damaged, and search for a father substitute, leading to getting pregnant early
- growing up in a single parent family is more damaging and a greater indicator of criminality than poverty
17
Q
how can MURRAY/new right theory be criticised?
A
- victim blaming: MURRAY blames people for their own poverty when it’s not always an individual’s choice to live of state benefits (could be illness, lack of jobs)
- not all from the underclass have a lazy work ethic: many want to work, but the opportunity isn’t there
- not all who live in poverty turn to crime
18
Q
explain BECKER’S labelling theory: (interactionist)
A
- labelling relates to power: if you have power, you have the ability to make a label stick
- e.g. young people labelling police has little to no effect, yet police labelling youths has an effect (leads to stop/searches, more arrests)
- leads to “self fulfilling prophecy”
- e.g. young male constantly labelled by police, accept he’s deviant so more likely to make choices that get him into trouble, so living up to the deviant label
19
Q
explain CICOUREL’S study: social organisation of juvenile justice (interactionist)
A
- carried out obvs with police/CJS in 2 US cities, found the process of dealing with potential deviants had 3 stages:
1. stop and search based on behaviour being “suspicious”
2. arrest person depending on their appearance/behaviour towards police
3. probation officer has a picture of the “typical delinquent”, sees if they fit that profile - he linked the effect of behaviour to social class: if someone is polite and apologetic, no further action may be taken
- he says “justice can be negotiated”
- the 2 cities were similar in $ background + population, yet 1 city had constant high juvenile delinquency rates, the other fluctuated on media publicity/public concern
- therefore, delinquents are constructed by the agencies of social control, and therefore socially constructed
20
Q
how can we evaluate interactionist explanations on ds?
A
by using labelling and the concept of self fulfilling prophecy to explain youth deviance, they assume the label comes first, so they don’t explain why some youth commit deviant acts before they’re labelled and why others don’t
21
Q
why do marxists/neo marxists believe youth subcultures form?
A
- CCCS take a Neo-marxist approach, and tended to focus on social class and the $ situation faced by young people
- despite looking/dressing differently, the members of these subcultures still faced the same experiences/social issues, e.g. high unemployment and racial tension
- sc can be seen as a form of resistance against the ruling class and the $ system youths are in
22
Q
how can we evaluate the marxist/neo marxist view?
A
- they were finding meanings that didn’t actually exist (were looking for examples relating to class so interpreted sc in this way, when youths may just have been having fun)
- feminists challenge CCCS for ignoring girls
- MCROBBIE+GARBER were part of CCCS, but as feminists they challenged their findings and did their own studies
- middle class had ignored sc (hippies), so could be argued the CCCS chose sc to fit their findings
- majority of youths don’t belong to sc, so were only studying a visible minority
- dated, as today’s youth is different
23
Q
explain club cultures: (pm)
A
- researched by Manchester institute of popular culture
- no clear gender, class or ethnic differences can be found amongst clubbers
- the research emphasises the role of the media as an important part of club cultures
- REDHEAD states sc are formed within the media and the media drives sc, not the other way around like the CCCS argued
24
Q
explain neo tribes (pm)
A
- MAFFESOLI used this term to refer to a loosely organised group with no fixed membership or commitment
- group ID’s no longer formed along traditional social lines (e.g. class), instead youths flit from tribe to tribe, dabbling in different aspects (clothes/music) then moving on
- tribes not exclusive, group is used to satisfy individual needs
- BENNET supports this by researching nightclubs in Newcastle, finding neo tribes based around fashion/lifestyle but with with no shared values
- e.g. clubbing is multidimensional, as clubbers move between rooms and engage in different crowds
25
Q
explain the supermarket of style: (pm)
A
- POLHEMUS says youths can create ID’s by choosing from cultures, fashions, ect
- all the choices available mean commitment to one style isn’t very common, and young people are reluctant to give themselves labels and restrict their choices
- retro fashions are common but the entire sc isn’t recreated, just certain parts
- style is important, and fluidity and choice are central for youth today
26
Q
how can we evaluate postmodernist explanations of ys?
A
- there are still some distinct youth subcultures, such as emos, so not everyone mixes styles
- do young members belong to neo tribes or are they just having fun with friends?
- ys are largely mainstream and often driven by the media, so are people actually making choices or are these Neo Tribes artificial and media driven?
- the fluidity of youths where everyone is equal isn’t true for many (there are ethnic/gender divides)
- people still form subcultures through protests/politics, e.g. human rights activists
27
Q
how do functionalists see youth?
A
- functionalists see society based on consensus
- individuals must feel integrated into society and feel that they belong
- if they don’t feel integrated, they will be isolated and anomie will occur
28
Q
what did PARSONS say about the emergence of youth? (f)
A
- youth only emerged with the development of capitalism
- young people had to learn the skills for adult life, taught through education
- it’s an important stage during a stressful time, where individuals must learn to leave the security of their family and become independent
break ties with parents: childhood
develop independence to start their own families: adulthood - becoming independent (getting part time jobs, spending more time away from their family) gives experience of independence and develops skills, such as money management
- youth culture is a right of passage that individuals must go through between childhood/adulthood
29
Q
how does EISENSTADT see youth culture as a way of bringing people together? (f)
A
- youth culture is a way of bringing young people into society
- youth provides shared n+v with peers and a sense of belonging
- rebellion is seen as normal, “hormonal”, but functionalists say it’s pushing the boundaries, learning right from wrong
- youth can provide a safe outlet for the tensions the transition brings, allowing to “let off steam” and get any frustrations “out of their system”
30
Q
what does ABRAMS say about youth culture? (f)
A
youth culture was created by the media, as youths started to have more spending power so were purposely targeted by business and the media
31
Q
how has the functionalist view been criticised?
A
- they’re generalising about youth culture as a whole, not accounting for individual subcultural differences between youths
- distinctions such as social class/gender not considered
- neo marxists focused on impact of social class when considering how ys formed
- feminists consider gender differences in expectations relating to males/females
32
Q
what is the feminist view on youth subcultures?
A
- the role of girls in subcultures have been ignored by other theories
- as many researchers are male, was suggested they developed a rapport with their male subjects and found it harder to relate to teenage girls
- MCROBBIE+GARBER say girls were absent from most research, and only appeared to reinforce stereotypical views of girls
- they also argue girl’s friendship groups are often very close knit, and girl’s are important to study in their own right
33
Q
how can we evaluate feminist theories?
A
- recent theories, e.g. postmodernism have developed, meaning gender is less significant and many current subcultures don’t have any clear gender distinctions, so feminist views are less relevant
34
Q
who are teddy boys? (ss)
A
- they emerged in the 1950’s, and were often excluded from wealth as they hadn’t done well in school and had dead end futures
- hung around cafe’s in large groups, and wore Edwardian style jackets and bootlace ties
- the jackets symbolised them trying to be like their middle class superiors
- ties were like those worn by cowboys in western films, who they saw as cool role models
35
Q
who are mods? (ss)
A
- they’re wc, but more affluent
- style resistance against the wc
- males dressed in fishtail parkas and drove vespa scooters they adapted themselves
- they were influenced by music like soul/rhythm
- liked bands such as the kinks, the who
36
Q
who are rockers? (ss)
A
- a subculture that came about in the 1960’s
- wore black leather jackets and boots
- rode motorbikes and listened to rock and roll
- often unskilled, tended to be manual labourers
- sometimes referred to as bikers
37
Q
who are skinheads? (ss)
A
- represent exaggerated wc men
- wore rolled up jeans, braces and big boots
- seen as macho, aggressive and racist
- felt that wc ID was under threat due to poor $ conditions and lack of jobs
- over exaggerated this ID to show resistance, and are linked to football hooliganism (which they used to mark their territory)
38
Q
who are punks? (ss)
A
- they put ordinary objects together in a new way for their own fashion and ID, e.g. ripped clothes and piercings with safety pins
- punk emerged as a resistance against mainstream media/fashion industries that often told youth how to be
- it attracted wc, alienated youth and college students attracted to the energy of the subculture
- it had political elements: bands like the sex pistols sung about poverty and smashing the system
39
Q
what to postmodernists believe about youth culture?
A
- subcultures have become increasingly fragmented and diverse
- youth styles are much more fluid and changeable, and mix things from many different sources
- they completely vary between ethnicity, gender and class divides
40
Q
which ethnicity commits the most crime overall?
A
youths from white British backgrounds
41
Q
which ethnicity is a disproportional number in the CJS?
A
african-caribbean youths
42
Q
how do HO statistics support the view of ac youths being disproportionate?
A
- youths from black ethnic background were 21% youths in custody 2012, yet this ethnic background is less than 3% population
- black people were stop/searched 7x more than whites in 2009 and arrested 3.3 times more
43
Q
what do HO statistics say about British Asians and crime?
A
- there has been an increase in crime rates
- 2009, asians were 5.6% population, 9.6% stop and searches and 7.1% prison population
- the largest rise for any ethnic group
44
Q
what do patterns and trends in ethnicity and crime show?
A
- they show a discrepancy in the way black and white young offenders are dealt with in the CJS, which may not be solely based on offending behaviour
45
Q
what do LEA+YOUNG state about statistics on ethnicity and crime?
A
- the statistics miss out that most UK crime is intra racial, and racially motivated crime is much rarer
- once this is understood, explanations for high rates of black criminality can be sought from within the black community, and issues such as street culture and poverty must be considered as explanations
46
Q
what gender is most likely to be involved in crime?
A
young men
