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

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

2. Labeling Theory Labeling theory claims that deviance is a consequence of external judgments, or labels, which both modify the individual’s self-concept and change the way others respond to the labeled person. Labeling theory is also related to the idea of the self-fulfilling prophecy, which is a prediction that causes itself to come true.

3. Free Write… 1. Was the label what you guessed, or were you surprised by it? 2. How did you feel toward the person who was stereotyping you? 3. How did you feel stereotyping another person? 4. How easy or difficult was it to come up with questions that stereotyped others?

5. National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

6. Author contends This was a collective act Which warrants a social explanation

7. What social patterns make this possible? In school – “jocks”, “preps”, “brains” at the top “Burnouts” at the bottom

8. How did they become “burnouts”? Labeling process or self-selection? What resources, choices were available? Subculture of heavy metal as opposed to white suburban America

9. Kids’ perception Lack of “anything to do” No connection to sports or extracurricular activities “No place to go”

10. Town is Occupationally mixed So it is tough to use economic class as a marker to distinguish “who’s who” Sports plays an important part in fulfilling that role

11. How do young people define themselves? By participation in sports, clubs, academics, etc. But also by who they date, what they wear, where they were seen, etc.

12. The “burnouts” represent the “other” actually from several cliques Druggies Dirtbags Deadheads Metalheads Thrashers Punks

13. Drugs offer immediate comfort Partying becomes a ritual End up stranded in teenage wasteland

14. Author suggests there’s more to it “Burnouts” are a social location with a collective identity and a role Has to do with the town’s order

15. Emile Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide: Durkheim’s main argument was that suicide is not an individual act It is a social fact that is tied to social structures and driven by social causes

16. (1) Egoistic suicide Results from social isolation and feelings of being “cut off” from society (2) Altruistic suicide: Results from being overly integrated with a group – i.e. cult suicides, suicide bombers (3) Anomic suicide: Results from a lack of social direction or purpose – usually after a major life change. (4) Fatalistic suicide: Results from overregulation in life. A person feels too constrained – i.e. slave or prisoner

17. Baba O’riley (Teenage Wasteland) by The Who Out here in the fieldsI farm for my mealsI get my back into my living.I don't need to fightTo prove I'm rightI don't need to be forgiven.Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahDon't cryDon't raise your eyeIt's only teenage wastelandSally, take my handWe'll travel south cross landPut out the fireAnd don't look past my shoulder.The exodus is hereThe happy ones are nearLet's get togetherBefore we get much older. Teenage wastelandIt's only teenage wasteland.Teenage wastelandOh, yeahTeenage wastelandThey're all wasted! • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig9Y9304kaA • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_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