NCJ Number
44112
Journal
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976)
Date Published
1976
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE PHENOMENON OF THE OUTLAW MOTORCYCLE GANG ARE OFFERED IN THE FIRST OF TWO ARTICLES BASED IN PART ON THE AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE AS A MEMBER OF THE 'ROAD GYPSIES.'
Abstract
DISTINCTIONS MUST BE DRAWN BETWEEN OUTLAW BIKERS AND OTHER MOTORCYCLISTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO BELONG TO INFORMAL GANGS. ALTHOUGH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE RIDE MOTORCYCLES, ONLY A FEW THOUSAND BELONG TO THE OUTLAW SUBCULTURE. TWO THESES APPEAR TO BE RELEVANT TO THE OUTLAW MOTORCYCLE PHENOMENON. THE FIRST CONCERNS DEVIANT SUBCULTURES WITHIN THE LOWER CLASS WHICH ESTABLISH THEIR OWN VERSION OF SUCCESS AND TEND TO PERCEIVE OF THEMSELVES AS AUTONOMOUS ELITES. THE SECOND THESIS IS THAT DELINQUENCY REPRESENTS A STRIVING NOT FOR MIDDLE-CLASS STATUS BUT FOR ADULTHOOD. OBSERVATIONS OF OUTLAW MOTORCYCLE CLUBS LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT CLUB MEMBERS ARE INDEED STRIVING FOR ADULT MASCULINE STATUS, OFTEN OVERCOMPENSATING FOR REAL OR FELT DEFICIENCIES. IN ADDITION, OUTLAW BIKERS PRACTICE MANY OF THE RITES USED BY YOUTHS TO CONFER ADULTHOOD ON THEMSELVES (E.G., SELF-ADORNMENT, ACQUISITION OF NEW NAME AND LANGUAGE, SECLUSION FROM WOMEN, BREAK FROM HOME, SEXUAL AMBIVALENCE, HAZING, ECONOMIC PROFIT FOR OLDER MEMBERS, EDUCATION FOR NEW ROLES, FERTILITY THEMES, AND DEATH AND REBIRTH MYTHS). ALTHOUGH THE OUTLAW BIKERS EXPERIENCE FRUSTRATION RELATED TO FEELING DEPRIVED OF THE FINANCIAL SECURITY AND POLITICAL POWER OF HIGHER SOCIOECONOMIC STRATA, THEIR BEHAVIOR ALSO REFLECTS A STRIVING FOR THE RIGHTS, AUTONOMY PRESTIGE, RESPECT, AND OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH ADULTHOOD. THE SECOND ARTICLE IN THE SERIES DESCRIBES THE SKILLS VALUED BY MEMBERS OF OUTLAW CLUBS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. FOR PART 2, SEE NCJ-44113).