Focal concerns

What is the result amongst delinquency for the lower class

not a result of the middle class measuring rod but instead its a natural expression of lower class culture itself 

How?

-the lower class culture has its own distinct values

-these focal concerns normalize and encourage behaviour that is defined as criminal or delinquent by mainstream society 

-focal concerns make criminal behaviour natural amongst lower-class youth 

-lower-class youth aren’t rebelling, they’re simply living by a different set of rules 

Focal concerns of lower class culture

trouble

toughness

smartness

excitement

fate

autonomy

Trouble

boys are evaluated by their potential for trouble or actually getting into trouble.

-  Lower class boys are more likely to earn respect when they get in trouble 

-being able to handle trouble, how you handle yourself will earn you prestige or respect in the lower class 

-if you can’t get yourself out of trouble you can be viewed as foolish, cause you can’t handle yourself 

-middle class mom meets her daughters boyfriend, mom is judging the boyfriend’s potential on achievement

-a lower class mom might view the boyfriend asks how often he gets into trouble 

-bad boys song

Toughness

• Value is placed on physical strength, not showing weakness is valued in the lower-class culture

• Standing up for yourself, not letting someone walk all over you, toughness is demonstrated by fighting, middle class is words over fists

• Preoccupation with masculine, being masculine is what is valued not being feminine, showing emotions being soft is bad

• Only soft with a maternal figures, best friend, kids, wife, sporting events 

Smartness 

-being street smart, knowledge of the neighbour, what's going on, knowing how to communicate efficiency, manipulating others, being able to do things successfully, scamming people

-witty, verbal comebacks, rap battles 

- 8 mile eminem rap battle  

Excitement

lower class culture emphasizes excitement, everyday is boring and to escape that is have excitement, to have fun, engage in risk taking behaviour, speeding, vandalism, drugs, lots of women, sexual relations 

-hustling song 

Fate

• Believe that life is controlled by life and destiny different from middle school, people have little control over their future

• Example: being in the working class buying a lottery ticket, gambling 

Autonomy

• Refers to placing an emphasis on being independent, rejection of authority, not listening to people, I can take care of myself 

Concluding remarks

focal concerns are taught and reinforced within lower class communities

-young people learn them through socialization 

-when they express focal concerns they are acting according to the values they grew up with 

-however their values may clash with the law 

criticism of Cohen and millers theories

-overgeneralization, not all lower class boys are going to have these values

-class bias - stereotyping lower class people 

-Ignores structural issues, no mention of poverty 

- Gender bias - what about girls or women, why doesn’t it apply to them even thought they go throught the same thign