Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books,...

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Gang Leader for a Day: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008 Books, 2008

Transcript of Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books,...

Page 1: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Gang Leader for a Day: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes A Rogue Sociologist Takes

to the Streetsto the Streets

Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008Books, 2008

Page 2: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

WHAT IS FIELD RESEARCH?WHAT IS FIELD RESEARCH? Field researchers directly observe and Field researchers directly observe and

participate in natural social settingsparticipate in natural social settings Examine social world “up close”Examine social world “up close”

Field researchers work w/ qualitative dataField researchers work w/ qualitative data There are several kinds:There are several kinds:

EthnographyEthnography Participant observationParticipant observation Informal “depth” interviewsInformal “depth” interviews Focus groupsFocus groups

Page 3: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

8 Stages of a Field Research Study8 Stages of a Field Research Study

1)1) PreparingPreparing

2)2) Starting the research projectStarting the research project

3)3) Being in the fieldBeing in the field

4)4) Developing strategies for success in the fieldDeveloping strategies for success in the field

5)5) Observing and taking field notesObserving and taking field notes

6)6) Conducting field interviewsConducting field interviews

7)7) Leaving the fieldLeaving the field

8)8) Writing the field research reportWriting the field research report

Page 4: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Robert Taylor Homes,Chicago

Page 5: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Robert Taylor HomesRobert Taylor Homes

Page 6: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

The “gallery”- Robert Taylor HomesThe “gallery”- Robert Taylor Homes

Page 7: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Power vs Authority (Weber)Power vs Authority (Weber)

power: power: the ability of an actor to realize his/her the ability of an actor to realize his/her will in a social action, even against the will of will in a social action, even against the will of other actorsother actors power relates to the ability to command resources in power relates to the ability to command resources in

a particular contexta particular context often relies on the use of force or coercionoften relies on the use of force or coercion

authority: the probability that specific commands authority: the probability that specific commands will be obeyed. will be obeyed. In other words, to have authority in a particular In other words, to have authority in a particular

domain means that one's directives will be followeddomain means that one's directives will be followed authority is power + legitimacy authority is power + legitimacy

Page 8: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Weber’s definition of a stateWeber’s definition of a state

A stateA state (more commonly called gov’t) is (more commonly called gov’t) is the sovereign authority in a specified the sovereign authority in a specified territory, with the right to use force both to territory, with the right to use force both to maintain internal order and to defend its maintain internal order and to defend its territory against aggression. Sovereignty, territory against aggression. Sovereignty, in turn, implies that the state is the ultimate in turn, implies that the state is the ultimate authority in its territory, exercising legal authority in its territory, exercising legal jurisdiction over its citizens and the groups jurisdiction over its citizens and the groups and organizations they form in the conduct and organizations they form in the conduct of daily life. (Lechner & Boli, p. 219) of daily life. (Lechner & Boli, p. 219)

Page 9: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Does “culture” cause crime?Does “culture” cause crime?

The "culture of poverty" perspective looks to The "culture of poverty" perspective looks to cultural factors in order to account for persistent cultural factors in order to account for persistent poverty. One early version of the theory poverty. One early version of the theory attributed the persistence of a black urban attributed the persistence of a black urban underclass to "values" – such communities, it underclass to "values" – such communities, it was said, did not value hard work, education, was said, did not value hard work, education, saving, and various other core American/middle-saving, and various other core American/middle-class values. More recently, scholars are taking class values. More recently, scholars are taking another look at how culture and persistent another look at how culture and persistent poverty are enmeshed. poverty are enmeshed.

Page 10: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

What about blocked access to the What about blocked access to the “American Dream”?“American Dream”?

Or is the problem that Robert Taylor residents Or is the problem that Robert Taylor residents shared American values – the American dream shared American values – the American dream – yet did not have the means to realize them?– yet did not have the means to realize them?

According to "anomie theory" (an updated According to "anomie theory" (an updated version of Durkheim's theory), when there's a version of Durkheim's theory), when there's a mismatch between culturally accepted goals and mismatch between culturally accepted goals and the legitimate means to achieve them, anomie the legitimate means to achieve them, anomie (or strain) will result(or strain) will result

One response to anomie is "innovation," where One response to anomie is "innovation," where people strive toward culturally prescribed goals, people strive toward culturally prescribed goals, but by illegitimate (often criminal) means but by illegitimate (often criminal) means Gangs are a typical exampleGangs are a typical example

Page 11: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Anomie theory (or strain theory)Anomie theory (or strain theory) Robert Merton’s anomie theory locates cause of Robert Merton’s anomie theory locates cause of

deviance in a disjuncture (or mismatch) between deviance in a disjuncture (or mismatch) between culturally prescribed culturally prescribed goalsgoals (values) and socially (values) and socially structured structured meansmeans (norms) to achieve them (norms) to achieve them

Individuals in such a society must adapt to this Individuals in such a society must adapt to this mismatch, and some adaptations may lead to mismatch, and some adaptations may lead to deviancedeviance

Members of classes or ethnic or racial groups Members of classes or ethnic or racial groups that experience this disjuncture most acutely are that experience this disjuncture most acutely are more likely to make deviant adaptationsmore likely to make deviant adaptations

Page 12: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Modes of adaptation to Modes of adaptation to anomie/strainanomie/strain

Values (goals) Norms Values (goals) Norms (means)(means)

1. Conformity 1. Conformity + + ++

2. 2. InnovationInnovation + + --

3. Ritualism3. Ritualism - - ++

4. Retreatism 4. Retreatism - - --

5. Rebellion 5. Rebellion xx xx

Page 13: Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets Sudhir Venkatesh, Penguin Books, 2008.

Modes of adaptation are distinguished by Modes of adaptation are distinguished by responses to culturally prescribed goals (values) responses to culturally prescribed goals (values)

and socially structured means (norms)and socially structured means (norms)

1.1. Conformity: Conformity: to conform to goals and means, and avoid to conform to goals and means, and avoid becoming deviantbecoming deviant

-most common response to strain in every society-most common response to strain in every society

2.2. InnovationInnovation: : to strive toward culturally prescribed goals, to strive toward culturally prescribed goals, but by illegitimate (often criminal) meansbut by illegitimate (often criminal) means

3.3. Ritualism:Ritualism: to conform to society’s norms (means) w/o to conform to society’s norms (means) w/o expectation of achieving culturally prescribed goals expectation of achieving culturally prescribed goals (values)(values)

4.4. RetreatismRetreatism: to reject goals and means, withdraws : to reject goals and means, withdraws emotionally, sociallyemotionally, socially

5.5. RebellionRebellion: to construct “a new social order” of goals : to construct “a new social order” of goals and means to replace conventional values and normsand means to replace conventional values and norms