SOC 142, Mondays 7-9:50pm

Presentation - Holly Stadel

Collective Identity in Straight Edge Movement:

 The author begins by explaining how there is less research on diffuse, identity-based movements. He introduces the term "New Social Movement," which is a movement that lacks political context and traditional organization; he claims that NSM theories do not adequately explain decentralized movements or collective identity. By using the straight edge movement (a youth movement rooted in the punk rock scene), the author wanted to explore how collective identity plays out in diffuse movements. He theorizes that collective identity if the foundation of diffuse movements, and that it provides "structure," a basis for commitment and guidelines for participation.

To be straight edge, one must abstain from drug and alcohol use, and many also forfeit sex unless in a serious relationship. Others become vegetarian or vegan and become involved in animal rights/human rights/environmentalist activism. Straight edge is a subculture of punk rock – stemming from the idea that punk's self-destructive lifestyle was detrimental to the idea of individualism.

Data comes from 12 years of observation while living amongst a Midwest straight edge group. Primary data comes from longitudinal participant observation of high school and university students from middle-class backgrounds during the year 1996-2003. Approximately 80 people were observed at social events in straight edge members' homes and at hardcore shows. Further information was incurred through unstructured, in-depth interviews with 20 men and 10 women, ages 18-35. Members with varying levels of involvement were selected, and snowball referrals were also taken advantage of. Data was collected from members outside of the author's personal circle; he sought out participants from other cities and also visited different states to see what each individual scene was like.

The straight edge movement didn't have leaders, meetings or a way of keeping track of membership but somehow members from around the world had adopted the fundamental principles of the movement. Music and internet were the main avenues for communicating and spreading the ideology. Many bands sang about the importance of living a clean life and certain social issues, while the internet helped form a community via message boards and websites for networking. Having a way to express straight edge ideology with others helped form the collective identity. Despite the lack of central organization, the straight edge collective identity still serves as the foundation of a great movement.

 

Collective Identity and Persistence of U.S. White Power Activism

This article begins by introducing Francesca Polletta's (1997,1999) "free spaces" theory – that small-scale settings exist to provide an activist autonomy and ability to own oppositional movement identities. The three general types of free spaces and identities are indigenous, transmovement and prefigurative. The authors claim that this article will add to Polletta's work by examining free spaces in U.S. white power movement activists – seeing how "their specific roles enable members to materialize, communicate and sustain collective identity" (17).

Information is collected by observation and interview field data during WPM activities in the years 1996-2003.  A multi-method approach was used – participant observation in a variety of settings, as well as in-depth, face-to-face/telephone interviews were done with 56 activists. Juxtaposing different social ties and cultural practices of members, the authors identified various types of free spaces that are created/inhibited.  2 types of prefigurative cultural spaces were specifically observed; "Indigenous-prefigurative" spaces are small, locally-bound networks where members were involved in political socialization/boundary marking/other cultural practices that formed prefigurative Aryan bonds, and the "Transmovement-prefigurative" space is where local networks are connected to a larger network of white power culture/identity.

The white power movement in the U.S. is comprised of groups such as the Klu Klux Klan (AKA the KKK, the oldest and most influential organization that is anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic and fosters social purity ideals), Christian Identity sects (believes Anglo Christians are Gods chosen race), neo-Nazis (rooted in American Nazi Party that identified with Hitler's racial purity ideals) and white power skinheads (newest addition to WPM that like white power music, racist politics and racial violence). Despite their differences, each group share common ideologies and have committed to maintaining white supremacy. This collective identity is powerful because of the free spaces in which different groups can have social relationships that reinforce their white power ideals. Despite severe opposition and risk of losing jobs/status, white power activism continues to exist in society. The authors suggest that white supremacist groups continue to thrive because of the free spaces in which ideologies are expressed and applauded.