NCJ Number
60227
Journal
Deviance et societe Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 61-86
Date Published
1977
Length
26 pages
Annotation
JUVENILE MARGINAL GROUPS OF THE COUNTERCULTURE ARE ANALYZED IN TERMS OF SOCIAL CLASS.
Abstract
AFTER THE MAY REVOLT OF 1968, FRENCH JUVENILES ATTEMPTED TO CREATE A COUNTERCULTURE--A CLASSLESS SOCIETY WHICH WAS NEITHER BOURGEOIS NOR WORKING CLASS. A STUDY OF THE SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF MEMBERS OF THIS COUNTERCULTURE UNCOVERED THREE BASIC TYPES: (1) MEMBERS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS WITH A UNIVERSITY DEGREE USUALLY IN THE HUMANITIES WHO HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES FINDING A SUITABLE JOB, (2) MEMBERS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS WITHOUT A UNIVERSITY DEGREE WHO IN TERMS OF JOB PROSPECTS FALL BETWEEN MIDDLE AND LOWER CLASS, AND (3) VOCATIONAL DROP-OUTS WHO IN TERMS OF SOCIAL BACKGROUND AND FUTURE STATUS BELONG TO THE LOWER CLASS. WITHIN THE COUNTERCULTURE, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES BREAK DOWN INTO TWO BASIC CATEGORIES: QUASI-MIDDLE-CLASS ACTIVITIES (SMALL BUSINESS, FREELANCE PROFESSIONALS) AND 'POPULAR' ACTIVITIES (OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL LABOR, CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES). THE STUDY INDICATED THAT THE SMALL BUSINESSMEN (E.G., OWNERS OF COUNTERCULTURE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS) AND FREELANCE PROFESSIONALS (E.G., TEACHERS, ARTISTS) WHOSE COUNTERCULTURE IS A COPY OF THE BOURGEOIS ESTABLISHMENT, COME FROM PREDOMINANTLY MIDDLE CLASS BACKGROUNDS. THE OCCASIONAL LABORERS AND DELINQUENTS TEND TO COME FROM LOWER CLASS BACKGROUNDS. THE MIDDLE CLASS COUNTERCULTURE HAS RELATIVELY FEW MEMBERS WHICH CAN BE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH EVEN FURTHER. THE LOWER CLASS COUNTERCULTURE--THOUGH FAR LESS CONSPICUOUS--CAN BE EXPECTED TO GROW IN NUMBERS. THE METHODS AND THE SAMPLE POPULATION USED IN THE SURVEY ARE NOT CLEARLY DEFINED. ONE DIAGRAM REPRESENTS CLASS ALLEGIANCE WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTERCULTURE. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH. (SAJ)