Assess the view that most youth subcultures are based on social class
OCR
A Level
2018
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Introduction
Introduce the essay topic, stating the view that most youth subcultures are based on social class. Briefly define 'youth subculture' and 'social class', and outline the key arguments you will explore.
AO1: Knowledge and Understanding
The Neo-Marxist View of Subcultures
Explain the key ideas of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS), particularly the work of Hall and Jefferson. Discuss their focus on resistance and rebellion within youth subcultures as a reaction to social class inequality.
Specific Examples of Class-Based Subcultures
Provide detailed examples of subcultures that are often associated with specific social classes. * **Teddy Boys:** Explain Hall and Jefferson's analysis of Teddy Boys and how they were seen as a reaction to the post-war social and economic changes. * **Skinheads:** Summarize Phil Cohen's work on Skinheads, emphasizing the link between working-class identity, frustration, and their subcultural style. * **Punk:** Discuss Dick Hebdige's analysis of punk and the appropriation of symbols as a form of resistance to consumerism and the dominant culture. * **Brake's 'Magical Solutions':** Briefly mention Brake's concept of 'magical solutions' and its relevance to subcultural styles as a form of escapism and rebellion.
Functionalist Perspective on Deviant Subcultures
Explain the functionalist view of subcultures, particularly regarding their focus on deviance. * **A. Cohen:** Explain Cohen's theory of status frustration and how it links to the development of delinquent subcultures. * **Cloward and Ohlin:** Briefly describe their theory of differential opportunity structures and how they relate to the emergence of different types of delinquent subcultures. * **Miller and Murray:** Mention their theories on lower-class culture and the role of subcultures in perpetuating social order.
Left Realism and Subcultures
Explain the key ideas of Left Realists, particularly the work of Lea and Young. Focus on how they link subcultures to concepts of relative deprivation, marginalization, and exclusion experienced by working-class youth.
AO2: Application
Apply the theories and examples discussed in AO1 to directly answer the essay question. Connect specific theories to particular subcultures and explain how they demonstrate the influence of social class. Provide evidence to support your arguments.
AO3: Analysis and Evaluation
Criticisms of the Social Class Focus
Critically evaluate the view that most youth subcultures are based primarily on social class. Discuss limitations and alternative perspectives. * **McRobbie:** Explain McRobbie's criticism of the CCCS for neglecting the experiences of 'ordinary' youth and subcultures not based on class. * **Functionalist Focus:** Point out the limitations of a purely functionalist approach to youth culture, as it may overemphasize deviance and neglect other aspects of subcultural expression. * **Other Factors:** Discuss how subcultures can be influenced by factors beyond social class, such as: * **Race:** Mention studies by Gunter that link racism to the development of subcultures. * **Gender:** Highlight studies by Blackman, Reddington, Jackson, and McRobbie that emphasize the role of gender in shaping subcultural experiences.
Differences Within Youth Culture
Explain how the emphasis on social class may fail to account for the diversity and complexities within youth culture. Mention Murray's argument about the underclass and its lack of contribution to social order, which challenges the notion of a unified working-class experience.
Conclusion
Summarize your main arguments, drawing a conclusion about the validity of the statement that most youth subcultures are based on social class. Acknowledge the complexity and limitations of the argument, while highlighting the significance of social class as a contributing factor to subcultural development.
Assess the view that most youth subcultures are based on social class
Youth subcultures, characterized by their distinct styles, values, and practices, have captivated sociologists seeking to understand the complexities of adolescence and group identity. The assertion that these subcultures primarily stem from social class has been a subject of significant debate. This essay will critically assess this view, examining perspectives that support and challenge the dominance of social class in shaping youth subcultures.
Neo-Marxist Perspectives: Class as a Catalyst for Resistance
Neo-Marxist theorists, particularly those associated with the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS), have been influential in linking youth subcultures to social class. They argue that subcultures emerge as a form of resistance against the dominant capitalist system and its impact on working-class youth.
Hall and Jefferson, for instance, saw Teddy Boys in the 1950s as reacting against the decline of traditional working-class communities and the rise of affluence. Similarly, Phil Cohen's work on Skinheads interpreted their style and behavior as a response to the perceived loss of working-class identity and the erosion of traditional masculine roles.
Dick Hebdige's analysis of Punk extended this notion, suggesting that subcultures appropriate and re-contextualize symbols of mainstream culture to create their own oppositional meanings. Punk's aggressive music, ripped clothing, and safety pin adornments became emblematic of resistance to societal norms and the perceived failures of capitalism.
Functionalist and Left Realist Approaches: Class and Deviance
Functionalist perspectives, while not directly focusing on subcultures, provide insights into the relationship between social class and deviance, which can manifest in subcultural formations. Albert Cohen's work on status frustration suggests that working-class youth, unable to achieve status through legitimate means, may form delinquent subcultures that offer alternative routes to recognition and respect.
Cloward and Ohlin expanded this idea, arguing that the type of delinquent subculture that arises depends on the opportunities available within a particular community. Left Realists like Lea and Young contend that youth subcultures, particularly those associated with crime, are rooted in relative deprivation, marginalization, and social exclusion experienced by working-class youth.
Challenging the Class-Centric View
While the perspectives discussed above highlight the influence of social class on youth subcultures, it is crucial to acknowledge limitations and alternative viewpoints. Angela McRobbie, for example, criticizes the CCCS for neglecting the experiences of "ordinary" youth who may not fit neatly into class-based subcultural categories. She argues that their focus on spectacular and often male-dominated subcultures obscures the diverse ways in which young people negotiate identity and culture.
Furthermore, attributing subcultures solely to social class overlooks the significance of other factors. Paul Gilroy emphasizes the role of race in shaping youth cultures, particularly among Black British youth who face unique forms of racism and social exclusion. Similarly, feminist scholars like Angela McRobbie, Heidi Safia Mirza, and Tracey Skelton have highlighted the importance of gender in understanding the formation and dynamics of youth subcultures. They point to the emergence of distinct girls' subcultures with their own styles, values, and concerns.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while social class undoubtedly plays a role in shaping youth subcultures, particularly within the context of historical and economic conditions, it is essential to avoid simplistic explanations. The relationship between social class and subculture is complex and multifaceted, influenced by a range of intersecting factors including race, gender, and individual agency. While Neo-Marxist perspectives provide valuable insights into the role of resistance and identity formation, it is crucial to acknowledge the diversity of youth experiences and the limitations of class-centric analyses. A comprehensive understanding of youth subcultures requires recognizing the interplay of various social forces and acknowledging the agency of young people in constructing their own identities and cultural expressions.
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AO1: Knowledge and Understanding
The following may be used:
- The Neo-Marxist view of subcultures based on social class: CCCS; Hall and Jefferson; resistance and rebellion.
- Specific examples of class-based sub-cultures may be used: Teddy boys (Hall and Jefferson), Skinheads (p. Cohen), Punk (Hebdige); Brake (magical solutions).
- Responses may focus on deviant sub-cultures and how these are linked to social class from a functionalist point of view (e.g. A. Cohen; Cloward & Ohlin, Miller, Murray).
- Left Realists (Lea and Young) - subcultures develop from relative deprivation, marginalisation, exclusion.
- Any other relevant response.
AO2: Application
The selected knowledge should be directly related to the specific question.
AO3: Analysis and Evaluation
The following list is indicative of possible factors/evidence that candidates may refer to in evaluation but is not prescriptive or exhaustive:
- McRobbie - the CCCS ignores the experience of 'ordinary' youth (not class-based)
- Functionalist focus on youth culture not sub-culture
- Theorists who argue that sub-cultures are based on other factors; e.g., race. For example, racism could lead to subcultures, not class. (e.g. Gunter)
- Studies that argue that sub-cultures are based on gender (e.g. Blackman, Reddington, Jackson, McRobbie).
- It fails to acknowledge differences within youth culture; e.g. Murray – underclass youth does not contribute to social order.
- Any other relevant response.