Functionalism

The role of youth culture therefore is based on

Drawing boundaries between youth and adulthood Transition, enabling young people to learn to become adults Promoting social integration through youth culture Age and generation

Transitory phase

Functionalists argue that a key role of youth culture is to promote social integration for young people by offering a transitory phase of life which differs from both childhood and adulthood. Functionalists street the age-related, generational explanation of youth culture.

Social Integration

Functionalists argue that individuals need to be integrated into society, to feel that they belong to communities and social groups. Without social integration, society would begin to break down and experience 'anomie' as individuals would lack a sense of belonging.

Young people as a homogenous age group

Functionalists tend to see young people as a homogenous age group, despite clear differences in personal taste and style between different groups of young people. Functionalists consider that the binding nature of shared norms and values makes youth culture a transitional stage in life.

Creation of the teenage consumer

The 1950s are widely accepted within sociology as the time at which the teenage consumer was created. Another functionalist, Abrams (1959), argued the social changes of the time enabled the creation of youth culture, through increased spending power and a consumer economy targeting the youth market. It was around this time that youth became an important part of the economy.

Youth culture was created by..

Youth culture was created by social changes of the time, in particular economic changes bringing about a consumer society which enabled the media to target youth as a brand in itself. Functionalists support the view that there is a clear generation gap between youth and adulthood.