Subcultures form new status hierarchies for those lacking global status

Evidence

The word first indicated smaller offshoots of the “main culture,” but 1970s sociology focused the analysis of subcultures on loosely organized groups of young working-class outcasts who adopted unconventional styles and behaviors. Subcultures are a clear example of the alternative status groups introduced in chapter 1: collections of individuals lacking global status who form new hierarchies around status beliefs other than capital and mainstream virtues. — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 399

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Subcultural distinction requires high signaling costs to deter outsiders — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 422; Status seeking acts as an invisible hand generating culture — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 25; Shrinking subcultures grow more extreme as core members chase escalating status — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 426 (+8 more)

Broader Connections

• Low-status group members exit when subcultures offer a destination #corroborates (0.90) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 400
• Status hierarchies are perceived unevenly and sharpen with community inculcation #expands (0.85) — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, 885
• Status hierarchies can emerge purely from individuals’ belonging, distinctiveness, and esteem needs #expands (0.80) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 855
• Marginalized subcultures fuel mainstream cultural innovation, not the reverse #corroborates (0.75) — W. David Marx, Blank Space, 860