Punk rock as family and community: An exploration of the positive aspects of membership in a music-based subculture

Adolescence is often viewed as a tumultuous time. As teens grow more independent, social interaction with peers becomes increasingly important, and friendships with peers are associated with numerous positive outcomes. However, along with teens’ emerging autonomy and individuation comes increased social risk. Adolescent members of music-based subcultures are thought to be at increased risk for deviant and harmful behaviors such as substance abuse, violence, and increased sexual risk taking. However, there is little empirical evidence to support these claims. This work explores the positive aspects as well as the risks associated with the punk subculture from the perspective of adult members who joined as adolescents. Using an ethnography-informed approach, this qualitative study used interviews and field observations to shed light on the motivations for membership into the punk subculture as well as the experience of membership from the perspective of adults who joined as adolescents. The twelve participants represented equal groups of younger adult (age range 19-25) and older adult (age range 33-44) punks. Multiple themes emerged regarding the participants' entry into punk and the punk identity. Members across both age groups identified benefits. The contributions of these findings to the area's limited research base are detailed, their potential relevance to theory and practice is considered, and directions for future research are outlined