F**king Freak! What the Hell Do You Think You Look Like?' Experiences of Targeted Victimization Among Goths and Developing Notions of Hate Crime

• NCJ Number: 247480
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2014 Pages: 613-631
• Author(s): Jon Garland; Paul Hodkinson
• Date Published: July 2014
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Based on qualitative interviews with 21 adherents of the goth subculture in the United Kingdom - which is characterized by the wearing of black clothing with black or brightly colored hair, particular styles of jewelry, and perhaps tattoos - this study focused on the prevalence and nature of their being targeted for violence similar to hate crimes against groups specifically mentioned in hate-crime legislation.

Abstract

The study found that all respondents had experienced verbal harassment of some kind; and, for many, this was a fairly regular occurrence that was sometimes accompanied by "low-level" physical abuse, such as having objects thrown at them. Although serious physical attacks were less common, some respondents had direct experience of them, and most knew others who had also been assaulted. It was also found that being targeted for harassment or physical abuse can have a substantial impact, both individually and collectively, and that consciousness of the potential to be targeted can stimulate feelings of suspicion, nervousness, and fear that can affect people's behavior. The content of verbal attacks and the accompaniment of violent attacks by such verbal abuse leave little doubt that these adherents of an alternative subculture are targeted for pursuing a lifestyle different from the mainstream culture. The experiences reflected in these data can be compared with victim experiences in recognized hate-crime victim groups. The repetitive nature of victimization for some respondents and the crucial connections between low-level and more serious incidents is reminiscent of some aspects of racial hate crimes in their cumulative and escalating patterns. Building on the limited previous research on this subject, this study showed that the repeated targeting of alternative subcultural participants does constitute a specific and ongoing problem. Further, the experiences of those victimized resembles those of recognized hate-crime victims in a number of respects. 36 references