“It wasnae just Easterhouse”: The politics of representation in the Glasgow gang phenomenon, c. 1965-1975

In this chapter, we revisit the politics of representation in the Glasgow gang phenomenon, c. 1965–1975, as a means of drawing attention to the historical antecedents to these recent debates. In so doing we seek to draw attention to the variability in gang research – according to methodological approach, epistemological underpinning and geographical context – and the frequent lack of reflexivity in debate. Like the parable of the blind men and the elephant, where each felt a different part and thought they had discovered its true essence, these debates are too often partial and blinkered. Here we re-examine the work of James Patrick, Gail Armstrong and Mary Wilson, discussing the valuable distinctions between them, and reflecting on their significance for understanding the gang phenomenon in Glasgow (and elsewhere). We also explore not just what they can tell us about young people’s identities, but also about the role of the researchers themselves in shaping and constructing understandings of youth subcultures.