Wannabes, Goths, and Christians: The Boundaries of Sex, Style, and Status [Paperback]

Amy C. Wilkins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0226898431 | ISBN-13: 978-0226898438 | Publication Date: June 1, 2008 | Edition: 1

On college campuses and in high school halls, being white means being boring. Since whiteness is the mainstream, white kids lack a cultural identity that’s exotic or worth flaunting. To remedy this, countless white youths across the country are now joining more outré subcultures like the Black- and Puerto Rican–dominated hip-hop scene, the glamorously morose goth community, or an evangelical Christian organization whose members reject campus partying.

Amy C. Wilkins’s intimate ethnography of these three subcultures reveals a complex tug-of-war between the demands of race, class, and gender in which transgressing in one realm often means conforming to expectations in another. Subcultures help young people, especially women, navigate these connecting territories by offering them different sexual strategies: wannabes cross racial lines, goths break taboos by becoming involved with multiple partners, and Christians forego romance to develop their bond with God. Avoiding sanctimonious hysteria over youth gone astray, Wilkins meets these kids on their own terms, and the result is a perceptive and provocative portrait of the structure of young lives.

(20071101)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The subjects of this fascinating book are young, white, and miserable. They are drawn to outrageous subcultures in search of status and meaning. In this sensitive account, Wilkins uncovers the inklings of a new sexual revolution.”—Christine Willams, University of Texas at Austin

(Christine Williams )

“This is a beautifully, pungently written book in which telling ethnographic detail and compelling, often entertaining, narrative accounts are deployed in the service of a theoretically sophisticated, well-argued analysis. It is both provocative and riveting.”—Mary Ann Clawson, Wesleyan University

(Mary Ann Clawson )

“With deft analysis and vivid ethnographic detail, Amy Wilkins maps the contours of three contemporary youth subcultures. Lucid comparisons of the tangled and often contradictory dynamics of gender, sexuality, class, and race—and of the emotional dimensions of each of these cultural worlds—make this a memorable book.”—Barrie Thorne, University of California, Berkeley

(Barrie Thorne )

"Enlightening and provocative. . . . Accessibly written and clearly organized, this sociological study reveals the politics of identity that fuel white youths'' social memberships. Overall, an admirable and important addition to the growing field of youth culture studies."

(Choice )

"[Wilkins] reveals the shared and nuanced cultural repertories and resources each group uses as they engage in the identity work that enables them to resolve the problems of whiteness in America. . . . A fine analysis. Her book will hold much appeal for scholars of various sorts as well as undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those in courses investigating gender and race, youth, culture, and social inequalities."

(Amy L. Best Gender and Society )

"Even those readers who are not sociologists by study or trade will appreciate the candor and perception with which Wilkins writes about the subjects of the book, as well as her forward-thinking analysis surrounding the important but often overlooked, intersections of race, class and gender within these predominantly white communities. . . . Wilkins effectively digs to the core of how subcultures are formed and fostered, particularly among young, white, middle-class people."

(Kelly Moritz Feminist Review )

"Wilkins breaks new ground by revealing the central importance of sexuality in establishing identities. . . . In addition to its insights about gender and sexuality, [the book] has much to say about identity, authenticity, and young adulthood. Written in accessible language and full of engaging, informative details, it is well-suited for use in undergraduate and graduate courses in women''s studies, sociology, cultural anthropology, and racial/ethnic studies--perhaps especially in introductory courses. . . . Wilkins''s book will find a welcome place on the bookshelves of scholars of gender, race, and class, sexuality, and youth--and perhaps also on the coffee tables of parents concerned about offspring who act like ''those'' kinds of people.""

(Laura M. Carpenter Sex Roles )

"The clearly expressed intersectional analysis, substantive richness, and accessible writing make this book ideal for introductory level courses. The thick, engaging description would resonate with undergraduate students and would promote self-awareness and lively discussion."

(Jennifer Keys American Journal of Sociology )

About the Author

Amy C. Wilkins is assistant professor of sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Product Details

• Paperback: 294 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226898431
• ISBN-13: 978-0226898438
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating introduction to sociology for me, June 19, 2010

By 

Dan F "DanS" (New Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wannabes, Goths, and Christians: The Boundaries of Sex, Style, and Status (Paperback)

I was extremely impressed by this book. The author immersed herself in the social milieu of each subculture she studied and as a result gives amazing insight into her subject's (and friend's) lives. This is all done from the perspective of a fair and curious researcher who offers some, for me, shocking and opinion-changing analysis. Besides illuminating the conflicts, aspirations, and humanity of some very misunderstood subcultures, virtually every paragraph has something perspective-changing about society in general. What will interest readers most may not necessarily be wannabes goths and Christians themselves (although they are fascinating people), but the realization that everyone in the western world is dealing with the same issues and pressures as these subcultures, but in different ways. Learning how these subcultures interpret and deal with society had, for me, tremendous implications for understanding how I and everyone else I know confronts the world. This book interested me so much in sociology that I ordered six books from her bibliography once I finished reading to start learning more.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I liked it, July 12, 2009

By 

Lisa Bissell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wannabes, Goths, and Christians: The Boundaries of Sex, Style, and Status (Kindle Edition)

Can be a very confusing time, and the cliques have morphed since I was that age. I enjoyed this ebook.