Street Corner Society

The Street Corner Society: The Social Structure of an Italian district (original title: Street Corner Society) is one published in 1943 by William Foote Whyte sociological case study. You made ​​him a pioneer in the field of participant observation.

Whyte spent the late 1930s in Boston's North End, which was then highly populated mostly by Italian immigrants first and second generation. The area was considered to be potentially unsafe and crime was everywhere. The Italians were commonly seen as potential allies of the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. Whyte lived three and a half years in the North End, of which 18 months with an Italian family.

Content

" The Street Corner Society " describes the situation of different groups and communities in the North End on the example of Paesani - people who immigrated from the eponymous Italian city.

The first part of the book describes the structure and organization of the gangs in the neighborhood. Whyte difference between this corner boys and college boys, which was going on the lives of the first group at certain street corners and pubs. The college boys viewed in contrast, more for their own social career and sought after good training. The second part of the book describes the relationships between social structures, politics and gangsterism in the quarter.