Essay Example on Bikers Gang Subculture: A Product of Postmodernism

During the era of modernism, there was a culture wave. This was the period when people started questioning the norms that existed in society. The change is commonly referred to as postmodernism. Postmodernism led to the emergence of different subcultures, which meant a group of people whose beliefs and behaviors are different from the norm. Their deviation makes them stand out(Langton 4). This is how the Bikers Gang Subculture in the United States came up.

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The Bikers Gang Subculture refers to a motorcycle club in the United States that is outlawed. The gang members mostly use cruiser motorcycles, more especially the ones called Harley-Davidson and choppers. They also hold ideals that celebrate nonconformity to the societal norms, freedom. They are incredibly loyal to the organization. In the United States, the group was declared illegal not because they are involved in criminal activities but because they are not members of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), and therefore they have not sanctioned them. Additionally, they do not subscribe to the (AMA) rules( Langton 5-10). The department of justice refers to it as an organization that uses motorcycles for the sole purpose of indulging in criminal activities.

Before one becomes a member of the club, they have to pass through different stages. The stages include being a friend of the gang,` hang around'' and `prospect.' After that, one is allowed to become a full member. The Bikers have a different visual appearance based on the colors of the clothes they wear. The Bikers wear Patches at the back of their vests. The patch is a symbol that shows the affiliation of the member. It also shows that they are bikes and what they stand for. Nobody adorns the colors; they are earned and indicate that the person has been accepted in the club and is a dedicated member (James, Peter & Kerrie 11-15). Before one becomes a member, he has to be voted by the members and swear some form of allegiance to the organization.

The club colors are both colorful and elaborate and sometimes plain but with graphics. The colors have their meanings, and it is only the members who understand their meanings. Over the years, the colors were used for only men because the members thought women do not deserve them, but things of late have begun changing slowly. Since the clubs are different, some others have unique patches that are cut or top rocker and then put on with the letters MC on the middle back of their vests of riders, which are known as Uttermost of the members do not have severe records of crime. Their garments and patches are called cut or colors, which is a term derived from the traditional practice of cutting a collar from denin. The members are very vocal about acts of charity, such as toy runs( James, Peter & Kerrie 12-25). They cite their charitable events as a sign that they should not be outlawed because they are out for the good of society.

Works Cited

James, Peter, and Kerrie Droban. `The Last Chicago Boss: My Life with the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club'. , 2017. Print.

Langton, Jerry. Biker: `Inside the Notorious World of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang'. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers, 2013. print.