Working Class Subculture

• Subculture → Group whose attitudes and values differ from those of the mainstream culture
• According to cultural theorists, large sections of the working class have different goals, beliefs, attitudes and values from the rest of society
• Barry Sugarman (1970) → Argues that working-class subculture has 4 key features that act as a barrier to educational achievement
• Fatalism


  Belief in fate → ‘Whatever will be, will be’ -> Nothing that someone can do to change their status
• Collectivism


  Valuing being part of a group more than succeeding as an individual
• Immediate Gratification


  Seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices in order to get rewards in the future. MC -> Emphasise deferred gratification, making sacrifices now for greater rewards later
• Present-time orientation


  Seeing the present as more important than the future; not have long-term goals or plans
• Culture Deprivation Theorist → Argue that working-class parents pass on these beliefs and values to their children through primary socialisation


  Children internalise them = underachieving at school e.g. Immediate gratification = encouraging early leave to start earning money
• • Working-class jobs are less secure and have no career structure through which individuals can advance
  • Few promotion opportunities and earnings peak at an early age