Outline three reasons why some working-class boys join anti-school subcultures.
AQA
A Level
2024
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Outline: Reasons for Working-Class Boys Joining Anti-School Subcultures
This essay will explore three key reasons why some working-class boys join anti-school subcultures, drawing upon sociological theories and research.
1. Status Frustration and the Search for Alternative Status
Status frustration, a concept developed by Cohen, suggests that working-class boys may experience frustration when they are unable to achieve success in a system designed for middle-class values. They are denied the opportunity to gain status through academic achievement, which is highly valued in schools. This frustration can lead them to join anti-school subcultures, where they can gain status through alternative means, such as:
- Rebellion against authority: Engaging in behaviors that challenge school rules and norms can establish a sense of status within the subculture.
- Developing a distinct style: Anti-school subcultures often have their own dress codes, music preferences, and behaviors, which can provide a sense of identity and belonging.
2. Limited Job Opportunities and Hegemonic Masculinity
Working-class boys often face limited job opportunities and may perceive their future prospects as bleak. This can lead to feelings of resentment and a desire to express their masculinity in ways that are valued in their social circles. Anti-school subcultures can provide a space for them to:
- Challenge traditional notions of success: By rejecting academic pursuits and embracing "street smarts," they express a masculinity that is associated with strength, independence, and defiance.
- Engage in risk-taking behavior: Anti-school subcultures often involve activities that are seen as daring and rebellious, such as vandalism or fighting, which can reinforce notions of masculinity.
3. Working-Class Values and Alienation
Working-class values, such as immediate gratification and fatalism, may clash with the values emphasized in schools. This can lead to feelings of alienation and a sense of not belonging. Anti-school subcultures can offer a sense of belonging and acceptance by:
- Providing a counter-culture: These subcultures offer an alternative to the dominant values and norms of the school system.
- Accepting behaviors that are rejected by schools: Anti-school subcultures may value behaviors that are seen as disruptive or anti-social, providing a sense of validation for these working-class boys.
It is important to acknowledge the complex interplay of these factors. Anti-school subcultures are not merely a response to individual frustration, but a reflection of broader social and economic inequalities. By understanding these reasons, educators and policymakers can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable school system that meets the needs of all students, regardless of their social background.
Anti-School Subcultures and Working-Class Boys
Anti-school subcultures, characterized by their rejection of traditional academic values and norms, often attract a disproportionate number of working-class boys. This essay will outline three key reasons for this phenomenon: status frustration, limited job opportunities, and the influence of working-class attitudes and values.
Status Frustration
Firstly, status frustration, a concept developed by Albert Cohen, plays a significant role. Working-class boys, often facing an educational system that prioritizes middle-class values and norms, may struggle to achieve academic success. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and frustration. Joining an anti-school subculture provides an alternative avenue for achieving status and recognition. By rejecting academic achievement and embracing behaviors deemed rebellious or disruptive, these boys can gain status and respect within their peer group. The subculture becomes a space where their values and behaviors are validated, providing a sense of belonging and identity.
Limited Job Opportunities and Hegemonic Masculinity
Secondly, the limited job opportunities available to working-class boys, particularly in a rapidly changing economic landscape, can contribute to their involvement in anti-school subcultures. With traditional manual labor jobs declining, the pressure to achieve academically intensifies. However, if these boys feel alienated by the education system and see little hope for future employment, they may reject its values altogether. This can manifest in expressions of hegemonic masculinity, often prevalent within anti-school subcultures. These expressions might involve disruptive behavior, aggression, or a focus on physical prowess – all seen as ways to assert dominance and masculinity in the absence of traditional avenues for success.
Working-Class Attitudes and Values
Thirdly, certain working-class attitudes and values can contribute to feelings of alienation within the education system, pushing some boys towards anti-school subcultures. Sociologists like Sugarman have highlighted values such as fatalism (a belief that they have little control over their future) and immediate gratification (prioritizing present enjoyment over long-term goals) as potentially clashing with the delayed gratification and future-oriented perspective often emphasized in schools. Furthermore, the emphasis on class identity can lead some working-class boys to actively resist what they perceive as middle-class values imposed by the education system. This resistance might manifest in rejecting school uniform rules by wearing branded clothing, a form of symbolic capital that holds value within their subculture, further solidifying their group identity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the over-representation of working-class boys in anti-school subcultures can be attributed to a complex interplay of factors. Status frustration stemming from academic struggles, limited job opportunities leading to expressions of hegemonic masculinity, and the influence of certain working-class attitudes and values all contribute to this phenomenon. These boys are not simply rejecting school; they are navigating a system that often feels at odds with their realities and seeking alternative avenues for belonging, identity, and even resistance.
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Explanations for Anti-School Subcultures
There are several explanations for why working-class boys might join anti-school subcultures. These include:
Status Frustration
Status frustration (1 mark); some working-class boys may not achieve academically and join anti-school subcultures to gain status within their peer group (+1 mark).
Job Opportunities
Fewer job opportunities for working-class boys (1 mark); this may lead them to express hegemonic masculinity through membership of anti-school subcultures (+1 mark).
Working-Class Attitudes and Values
Working-class attitudes and values (1 mark); such as fatalism and immediate gratification may result in feelings of alienation for some working-class boys in school and membership of anti-school subcultures (+1 mark).
Class Identity
As an expression of class identity (1 mark); some groups of working-class boys deliberately choose to break school uniform rules by wearing branded clothing as a form of symbolic capital, a feature of anti-school subcultures (+1 mark).
Resistance to Labelling
Working-class boys are less likely to be seen as 'ideal students' (1 mark); joining an anti-school subculture can be an expression of resistance to negative labelling (+1 mark).