Aim: How can Labeling Aim: How can Labeling theory be used to analyze theory be used to analyze “Teenage Wasteland” by “Teenage Wasteland” by Donna Gaines?Donna Gaines?

Labeling TheoryLabeling Theory

Labeling theory claims that deviance is a Labeling theory claims that deviance is a consequence of external judgments, or consequence of external judgments, or labels, which both modify the individual’s labels, which both modify the individual’s self-concept and change the way others self-concept and change the way others respond to the labeled person. respond to the labeled person.

Labeling theory is also related to the idea Labeling theory is also related to the idea of the self-fulfilling prophecy, which is a of the self-fulfilling prophecy, which is a prediction that causes itself to come true.prediction that causes itself to come true.

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1.1. Was the label what you guessed, or Was the label what you guessed, or were you surprised by it?were you surprised by it?

2.2. How did you feel toward the person How did you feel toward the person who was stereotyping you?who was stereotyping you?

3.3. How did you feel stereotyping How did you feel stereotyping another person?another person?

4.4. How easy or difficult was it to come How easy or difficult was it to come up with questions that stereotyped others?up with questions that stereotyped others?

National Suicide Prevention HotlineNational Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-82551-800-273-8255

Author contendsAuthor contends

This was a This was a collective actcollective act

Which warrants a Which warrants a social explanationsocial explanation

What social patterns What social patterns make this possible?make this possible?

In school – “jocks”, “preps”, “brains” at the In school – “jocks”, “preps”, “brains” at the toptop

““Burnouts” at the bottomBurnouts” at the bottom

How did they How did they becomebecome “burnouts”?“burnouts”?

Labeling process or self-selection?Labeling process or self-selection?

What resources, choices were available?What resources, choices were available?

Subculture of heavy metal as opposed to Subculture of heavy metal as opposed to white suburban Americawhite suburban America

Kids’ perceptionKids’ perception

Lack of “anything to do”Lack of “anything to do”

No connection to sports or extracurricular No connection to sports or extracurricular activitiesactivities

““No place to go”No place to go”

Town is Town is

Occupationally mixedOccupationally mixed

So it is tough to use economic So it is tough to use economic classclass as a as a marker to distinguish “who’s who”marker to distinguish “who’s who”

SportsSports plays an important part in fulfilling plays an important part in fulfilling that rolethat role

How do young people How do young people define themselves?define themselves?

By participation in sports, clubs, By participation in sports, clubs, academics, etc.academics, etc.

But also by who they date, what they wear, But also by who they date, what they wear, where they were seen, etc.where they were seen, etc.

The “burnouts” The “burnouts” represent the “other”represent the “other”

actually from several cliquesactually from several cliques

DruggiesDruggies

DirtbagsDirtbags

DeadheadsDeadheads

MetalheadsMetalheads

ThrashersThrashers

PunksPunks

Drugs offer immediate Drugs offer immediate comfortcomfort

Partying becomes a Partying becomes a ritualritual

End up stranded in teenage wastelandEnd up stranded in teenage wasteland

Author suggests there’s Author suggests there’s more to itmore to it

““Burnouts” are a social location with a Burnouts” are a social location with a collective identity and a rolecollective identity and a role

Has to do with the town’s Has to do with the town’s orderorder

Emile Durkheim’s Theory Emile Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide:of Suicide: Durkheim’s main Durkheim’s main

argument was that argument was that suicide is not an suicide is not an individual actindividual act

It is a social fact that is It is a social fact that is tied to social structures tied to social structures and driven by social and driven by social causescauses

(1) Egoistic suicide(1) Egoistic suicide

Results from social isolation and feelings of being “cut Results from social isolation and feelings of being “cut off” from societyoff” from society

(2) Altruistic suicide:(2) Altruistic suicide:

Results from being overly integrated with a group – i.e. Results from being overly integrated with a group – i.e. cult suicides, suicide bombers cult suicides, suicide bombers

(3) Anomic suicide:(3) Anomic suicide:

Results from a lack of social direction or purpose – Results from a lack of social direction or purpose – usually after a major life change. usually after a major life change. (4) Fatalistic suicide:(4) Fatalistic suicide:

Results from overregulation in life. A person feels too Results from overregulation in life. A person feels too constrained – i.e. slave constrained – i.e. slave or prisoneror prisoner

Baba O’riley (Teenage Wasteland) by The WhoBaba O’riley (Teenage Wasteland) by The Who

Out here in the fieldsOut here in the fieldsI farm for my mealsI farm for my mealsI get my back into my living.I get my back into my living.I don't need to fightI don't need to fightTo prove I'm rightTo prove I'm rightI don't need to be forgiven.I don't need to be forgiven.Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Don't cryDon't cryDon't raise your eyeDon't raise your eyeIt's only teenage wastelandIt's only teenage wasteland

Sally, take my handSally, take my handWe'll travel south cross landWe'll travel south cross landPut out the firePut out the fireAnd don't look past my shoulder.And don't look past my shoulder.The exodus is hereThe exodus is hereThe happy ones are nearThe happy ones are nearLet's get togetherLet's get togetherBefore we get much older.Before we get much older.

Teenage wastelandTeenage wastelandIt's only teenage It's only teenage wasteland.wasteland.Teenage wastelandTeenage wastelandOh, yeahOh, yeahTeenage wastelandTeenage wastelandThey're all wasted!They're all wasted!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig9Y9304kaA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8_Pf144Qmgv=_8_Pf144Qmg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UPw4f1oN7g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOoGfcZs1RA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR8D4Uybtzs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvvLL_oAvus&feature=related