The Stickup Kids is a true account of “race, drugs, violence, and the American Dream.” Its author, Randol Contreras, makes many sociological points throughout the book. Three of his most important points are gender, rationalizing torture, and emotions. Gender played an important role for each of the “stickup kids”, especially Pablo. According to Contreras, Pablo was “…the most extreme in his hyper masculinity and misogyny” (p. 129). In a way, the role of gender played a part in the action of committing crimes. His other point, rationalizing torture, talks about how torturers always try to rationalize their face-to-face violence; they always look for some kind of justification. Many, if not all, of the “stickup kids” tried to rationalize their
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In his article called Social Structures & Anomie, Merton argues that social structure causes, for some people, anomie. This, in turn, leads to deviant behavior. The major premise of this theory is all about success. People who want to be successful but lack the means approved by society turn to alternative ways to achieve that goal of becoming successful, such as crime. Merton believes that what causes crime is the success goal, without the legitimate way being open to someone. This can be for a number of reasons, such as their social class or environment. There’s one goal that we’re all supposed to be working towards and that’s to become a success in life. One will become successful any way they can. This theory is shown throughout The Stickup Kids. These drug robbers only wanted to be successful but they lacked the appropriate resources. As Contreras states, “David Luban…argues that historically, nations that torture often have five aims: to degrade, to terrorize, to punish, to extract incriminating confessions, and to gather intelligence. Drug robbers perhaps only aim for the last: to gather information on money and drugs” (p. …show more content…
It seemed like the social forces were against them, which produced, what some may say, “violent and self-destructive individuals.” Following Merton’s theory, this produced anomie. Contreras looks at things from a sociological point of view, which helps provide insight in trying to understand why these drug robbers did what they did. To outsiders, they may say, “Why didn’t they just get a regular job like the rest of us if they really wanted to be successful?” Well, that’s just the thing. The “stickup kids” weren’t like “the rest of us”. It just wasn’t as easy for them. That’s not to say that’s an excuse either. However, being in the South Bronx during the 1980s isn’t exactly an ideal time and place to achieve success. The “stickup kids” then become innovators (following Merton’s theory); they want to become a success but they don’t use the socially approved means. Instead, they turn to
In his article called Social Structures & Anomie, Merton argues that social structure causes, for some people, anomie. This, in turn, leads to deviant behavior. The major premise of this theory is all about success. People who want to be successful but lack the means approved by society turn to alternative ways to achieve that goal of becoming successful, such as crime. Merton believes that what causes crime is the success goal, without the legitimate way being open to someone. This can be for a number of reasons, such as their social class or environment. There’s one goal that we’re all supposed to be working towards and that’s to become a success in life. One will become successful any way they can. This theory is shown throughout The Stickup Kids. These drug robbers only wanted to be successful but they lacked the appropriate resources. As Contreras states, “David Luban…argues that historically, nations that torture often have five aims: to degrade, to terrorize, to punish, to extract incriminating confessions, and to gather intelligence. Drug robbers perhaps only aim for the last: to gather information on money and drugs” (p. …show more content…
It seemed like the social forces were against them, which produced, what some may say, “violent and self-destructive individuals.” Following Merton’s theory, this produced anomie. Contreras looks at things from a sociological point of view, which helps provide insight in trying to understand why these drug robbers did what they did. To outsiders, they may say, “Why didn’t they just get a regular job like the rest of us if they really wanted to be successful?” Well, that’s just the thing. The “stickup kids” weren’t like “the rest of us”. It just wasn’t as easy for them. That’s not to say that’s an excuse either. However, being in the South Bronx during the 1980s isn’t exactly an ideal time and place to achieve success. The “stickup kids” then become innovators (following Merton’s theory); they want to become a success but they don’t use the socially approved means. Instead, they turn to