"Street Kids": an Ethnographic Study of a Deviant Adolescent Subcultural Group
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"STREET KIDS": AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY "STREET KIDS": AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF A DEVIANT ADOLESCENT SUBCULTURAL GROUP. By JO-ANN B. CLIMENHAGE, B.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts McMaster University (c) copyright by Jo-Ann Climenhage, September 1989. MASTER OF ARTS (1989) MCMASTER UNIVERSITY (Sociology) Hamilton, ontario TITLE: "Street Kids": An Ethnographic Study of a Deviant Adolescent Subcultural Group. AUTHOR: Jo-Ann B. Climenhage B.A. (McMaster University.) SUPERVISOR: Dr. Jane Synge. NUMBER OF PAGES: viii, 196 ii Abstract /' I This thesis examines the social organization of <~;I( "street kids." Participation in street life can be an <jl~~\. II. ._,{ '\' 'ft!' alienating and isolating experience. I suggest adolescents / y~A~..t~1 I:L,d t.:; ':. ~':'. who leave intolerable family situation~ in favour of street :V~;<~;'\'- ' life, counterbalance the debilitating effects of individual isolation on the streets by participating in an alternative, adolescent subculture. This particular subcultural group I have chosen to study, constitutes a type of "(pseudo_family)." I contend that ---_.. -.--.-~-_. '-'-~. ----._.-.-----..~,-~ while this "street kid" group represents a "family" for these (j.", !11\" )1.::; adolescents , it also perpetuates a sense of victimIz'ation and 'I, ,J, is fraught with problems amongst its members, just like the :,:; ~j~ JT:~ ,r-"l:: home lives which they abandoned. Information drawn from Ii': numerous friendship networks within the "street kid" group pr%+vide eVid~~ge to support this contention·l~/' ' :.c! Emphasis is placed on understanding the @ngoing meaning of adolescent street life as viewed by male and female actors within this group. This is achieved by examining hI -- various contingencies and stages involved in becoming a "street kid," and by studying group structure and activities. The context in which their activities are explained is central iii to the understanding of group structure, as well as the creation of their gendered identities. iv Acknowledgements It is important for me to acknowledge the following people in the introduction to this thesis. They are the individuals who were so supportive of my endeavours. I wish to thank Professor Rhoda Howard for being a constant source of inspiration and for not only believing in me, but for encouraging me to believe in myself. My supervisor, Dr. Jane Synge also deserves special thanks, for allowing me the intellectual freedom to pursue my diverse interests and for having faith in me that I would be able to successfully tie all the pieces together into a coherent, innovative thesis. My other committee members Dr. Graham Knight and Dr. Charlene Miall also deserve acknowledgement for their advice, encouragement and constructive criticisms of my work. My parents Ann and Clifford Singleton have instilled in me the belief that anything is possible if you are willing to strive and work diligently for it. This thesis is a testimony to that. For the unconditional, love, support and encouragement they have always given me, I wish to say thank you. To my husband Richard Climenhage, who not only v patiently listened and commented on the various segments of my work, but unselfishly gave his support over the years, I want to express my gratitude and love. His understanding and I emotional support during the fieldwork for this thesis was invaluable. Eve st. Pierre, a youth worker, also deserves special mention, not only for helping to corroborate some of my findings with her experiences, but for expressing the same care and concern I have for these adolescents, and for actively trying to improve the situation of "street kids" through her work. Finally I would like to thank all the adolescents who made this study possible. For reasons of confidentiality I cannot name them individually. I hope this thesis accurately portrays some of the important aspects of their lives. vi Table of Contents Page Abstract eo •••••••••••••• II •••••••••••••• g •••• 0 eo •• •• iii Acknowledgements .............................•........... v Chapter One Introduction Introduction of SUbject 1 Outline 3 Key Terms - Culture 5 Subculture 6 Youth Culture 8 The "Street Kid" Group 8 Elements of Group Cohesion 10 "Street Kid" 13 "Street Kid" Profile 15 Use of Accounts ~ ................... .. 18 Discussion of Literature 23 Limited options ....•................................ 24 Second Point of Contention 26 Female Participation .............................. .. 29 Summary of Chapter 34 Chapter Two Research Methodology Outline 37 Participant Observation ........................••... 37 Formal Interviews ................................. .. 40 Informal Interviews > ,1· 2 Adoption of Research Role ...................•....... 43 Acceptance of this Role by Respondents •...•••.•..... 44 Use of Contacts in the Field .........•.............. 45 Other Sources of Information ...............•..•..... 48 Confidentiality ..............................•...... 48 possible Problems of the Study - External Validity 49 - Internal Validity .. 51 Chapter Three Socialization Into "Street Kid" Subculture Outline .. - 53 "Getting Connected" 53 Informal Sponsorship 57 Friendship Networks .......•......................... 59 Two Paths Leading to Involvement in Street Subculture Familial Network ....•...•..................•.•••.... 60 Running Away .. ..•..........................•.•.... .. 61 Background Dislocation as a Factor Precipitating vii Entry Into street Subculture ......................•. 62 "Hanging Out" ...........•........................... 75 "Proving Oneself" ..............•.............•....... 7 6 Initiation ~ 78 "Learning the Ropes" 80 Summary of the Cb,apter 89 Chapter Four Group Structure and Activities Outline .•....•...................................... 90 Group Structure ................................... .. 91 Use of Argot 100 Use of Nicknames 101 Use of Objects to Signify Group Cohesion 105 Activities and Accounts - Stealing 109 - Alcohol and Drug Use 117 Codes of Conduct on the Street 120 Summary of the Chapter 125 Chapter Five The Social Construction of Masculinity and Femininity Outline ...............................•............ 128 Discussion of Masculinity and Femininity ..•........ 129 Masculinity Amongst "Street Kids" 130 Involvement in Prostitution 134 Femininity Amongst "Street Kids" 138 Transition to Prostitution 141 Interaction Between the Sexes 146 Summary of the Chapter ..•.......................... 156 Chapter six Conclusion ...•...•...................................... 158 Appendices Appendix A Table One - Graph of Male / Female Respondents 169 Table Two - Subcultural Framework ; 170 Table Three - Age of Respondents in the Study 171 Appendix B Potential Interview Questions 172 Appendix C Glossary of Terms •••......•........................ 175 Appendix D Ranking of Various Types of Theft ......•...•....... 178 Appendix E Names of Respondents in study ~.~ ...•.•...... 179 Afterword on the Research Experience •..........•....... 181 Bibliography .. 0 • 0 0 • 0 • 0 •• ell ••••••••• II ••• 0 •• 0 •• 0 •••• 0 ••••• 189 viii Chapter One Introduction certain adolescents who are alienated from the traditional family setting or are themselves rejected by it, often for lack of alternatives, become involved in street subculture. 1 These adolescents' home lives are often characterized by disorder, emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse, and are often comprised of extended kin with substance abuse problems. The teenagers who appear in this study have chosen to forgo these family situations in favour of street In many ways participation in street life within a given city can be an alienating and isolating experience. These individuals require a reference group or community which offers a sense of belonging. Adolescent street subculture, 'Many of these adolescents can be termed "throwaways," young people who have been forced out of their homes because they were physically or sexually abused or victims of extreme neglect. House Committee of Education and Labour, Subcommittee of Human Resources, Runaway and Homeless Youth, 99th Congress, 2nd Session, July 25th 1985., cited in Mark David Janus, Arlene McCormack, Ann Burgess-Wolbert, Carol Hartman. Adolescent Runaways: Causes and Consequences. (Toronto: Lexington Books, 1987), p. 12. 2"A high percentage of these youth leave home because their families have become dysfunctional, that is, the family has such economic, marital, alcohol or mental health problems that there has been a total breakdown between the youths and families." Ibid. p. 12. 1 2 in part, counter balances the debilitating effects of individual ~solation on the streets and the problems which accompany alienation from mainstream society.3 "street kid" subculture constitutes a type of "community" or "family" for adolescents on the streets. These adolescents construct a number of organized groups through which the transmission of a set of attitudes and norms occur. I contend that while this "street kid" subculture constitutes a type of "pseudo family" for these adolescents, it also perpetuates a sense of victimization and is fraught with problems amongst its members, just like the previous families which they abandoned. This "street kid" subculture represents their attempt to construct a "normal", "idealized" family. This is implicit in the existence of street maxims which define ac:ceptable modes of conduct. (Le. Look out for one another on the streets. Loyalty to group members