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Real Punks and Pretenders

The Social Organization of a Counterculture

Very little has been written from a sociological perspective about the punk counterculture in the United States. Further, few studies of antiestablishment style cultures deal with their implicit social organization. In this essay I describe and analyze the informal stratification of a local punk community. I based members' positions within the hierarchy on their perceived level of commitment to the scene. Within the group, three categories of punks emerged: hardcore punks, softcore punks, and preppie punks. Another type appeared that was peripheral to the scene, referred to as "spectators." In discussing each type, I describe their appearance, lifestyle, and attitude and how these factors affected members' positions in the larger scene. I conclude by analyzing the function of each group for the social organization of the scene, and for antiestablishment cultures more generally.

Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Vol. 16, No. 3, 344-370 (1987)
DOI: 10.1177/0891241687163006


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