Question

Why are bikers labled as subculture. Explain why it came into social existance.

Answer 1

A subculture is defined by the formation of group of people who are united by a shared ideology which is separate, a tad often in conflict with the norms of the mainstream society. The members of a subculture see themselves as having a separate identity and invest in holding strong affiliations with the sub-culture often at the risk of not caring for the acceptance by the mainstream society. By this virtue, sociologists have identified several contemporary cult groups and communities as subcultures. One such community is that if the biker subculture.

A biker subculture comprises of individuals who are united by their persistence and intense and passionate interest and commitment to the motorcycle or bikes and the experience of riding the motorcycle. However, other than the mere knowledge and experience of riding a motorcycle, the biker subculture is identified so by the presence of certain key characteristics which make it a subculture as a socially recognisable category. First, like any subculture, the biker community too is organised around specific symbols which are upheld by each member and it gives them a sense of group identity, for instance, the biker Colours is a patch worn at the back of a biker’s vest, that shows with who s/he affiliates himself / herself. Furthermore, it also signifies the status of the members as colours are normally earned and show the club’s acceptance of the person in question. Thus, each biker group has its own personal meaning which only the members will know.

The emergence of subcultures such the the Biker subculture coincides with the rise of Postmodernism in the late Twentieth century. Postmodernism as a theoretical, art and social movement that gave birth to different subcultures, groups of people who behave and believe differently than the norm of society. Consequently, their deviation from the mainstream norms makes them stand out from the crowd and the biker community has often experienced that they are not accepted into society (Andersen & Taylor, 2007: 48). Some trace the history of the biker subculture in the United States to the popularity of the Mod subculture which was a loose-knit social group such as the scooter cafe racer riders in the United Kingdom in the the 1950s and 60s, which operated from the fringes of society and organised the members’ identity around fashion (often tailor-made Italian suits); music ( such as soul, ska, and R&B); and motor scooters (usually Lambretta or Vespa).