The Rise of Youth Culture

In the United States, the years from 1945 to 1963 were known as the “Baby Boom” due to the significant increase in births during that time. By 1958, a third of the population was fifteen years old or younger. Post-World War II, the country experienced a rise in wealth. As these “Baby Boomers” reached their teenage years in the late 1950s and early 1960s, many had disposable income. Companies vied for the attention of these new consumers. The film, music, television, and fashion industries created products specifically for the influential teen market. Rock and roll became the dominant music on the radio, and movies began to cater to adolescent themes. Actors James Dean and Marlon Brando became icons for their roles as teenage rebels in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and The Wild One (1954). Paul Newman, admired by Ponyboy for being “tough,” continued this trend with cool characters in films like The Hustler (1961), Hud (1963), and Cool Hand Luke (1967).

Teenagers' increased financial independence also led to a new level of autonomy from their parents. Rebellion against adult authority became a common theme in many teen films. Loud rock and roll music offered another avenue for teens to challenge their parents' values. Some adolescents' defiance turned violent, leading to the formation of teenage gangs in urban areas. The surge in the youth population also brought a rise in juvenile delinquency. These “JDs” became a pressing issue for law enforcement in the 1950s and 1960s. As The Outsiders illustrates, not all delinquents came from impoverished backgrounds. Children from so-called “good families” also became dropouts, gang members, and substance abusers.

The Vietnam War and the Protest Movement

Teenagers were not the only Americans challenging authority in the 1960s. The general public also began to question the United States' involvement in Vietnam's conflict against communist insurgents. The US had been sending military advisors to Vietnam since the 1950s. However, in 1964, the number of American troops in Vietnam doubled. By 1967, nearly half a million Americans were fighting there. Despite this, many citizens doubted the effectiveness and morality of American involvement. Thousands of protesters gathered for anti-war demonstrations, representing diverse groups such as students, clergy, scientists, and women.

In 1967, numerous significant protests took place. University of Wisconsin students caused damage to university property while expelling Dow Chemical recruiters (the company behind the defoliant napalm) from campus. During the week of April 15, anti-war demonstrations mobilized 100,000 people in New York and 20,000 in San Francisco. A protest at the Pentagon resulted in the arrest of several prominent figures, including poet Allen Ginsberg and pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. suggested uniting the civil rights movement with the anti-war movement, stating that the US government was “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world.”

Race Relations in the 1960s

Although all the “greaser” characters in The Outsiders are white, the discrimination they face mirrors the prejudice experienced by Black Americans and other people of color during the same period. Several laws and court rulings in the late 1950s and early 1960s had banned public segregation. Despite this, discrimination remained a daily reality for many Black individuals in the 1960s. In some Southern cities, federal troops had to enforce public school integration. Black students attending formerly all-white schools often encountered mockery and even physical violence from their peers. (This is reminiscent of how Ponyboy is labeled a “hood” by his lab partner when he uses a switchblade to dissect a worm in biology class.)

Despite the political advancements achieved by the civil rights movement, actual improvements for Black Americans were slow. Census data from the 1960s revealed that nearly half of non-white households lived below the poverty line, compared to one-fifth of white households. The unemployment rate among non-white individuals was more than twice that of white individuals, standing at 7.3 percent. “White flight” occurred as white middle-class families relocated from cities to suburbs. Consequently, many businesses and stores also moved out of urban areas, leading to reduced investment in infrastructure. The poor families left behind, both Black and white, often found themselves with deteriorating schools, fewer government resources, and decaying neighborhoods. Thus, while political segregation had been abolished, economic segregation persisted.

Race riots frequently erupted in these impoverished neighborhoods, often triggered by incidents of police brutality. The most destructive of these was the Watts riot, which lasted six days in 1965. The Los Angeles police required assistance from the California National Guard to quell the disturbance, which resulted in thirty-four deaths, thousands of injuries, and over forty million dollars in property damage. In 1967, race riots broke out in numerous US cities, resulting in eighty-three deaths and several hundred injuries. These riots were distinct from the “rumbles” depicted in The Outsiders, which are essentially conflicts between rival gangs. The race riots of the 1960s, however, typically began as confrontations between white police officers and Black residents. As the unrest escalated, rioters began targeting innocent bystanders and property. Shops were looted and set on fire, even those owned by Black families in the neighborhoods. One consequence of these riots was the addition of the Anti-Riot Act to the Civil Rights Bill of 1968.

Hinton's fiction consistently emphasizes social issues, with a primary focus on the dynamics of modern teenage peer groups, particularly gangs. In The Outsiders, the narrator Ponyboy is acutely aware of his gang membership throughout the story. He feels a strong sense of belonging, understanding the need to cooperate with his gang, even if disagreements arise. They remain united against common adversaries. Above all, Ponyboy knows the importance of "saving face" before his gang, engaging in fights, and defending his peers. The realm of adult authority, with its associated rights and responsibilities, is almost absent in the novel, except for the police and state agencies, who are mostly viewed as antagonists by the gang. With his parents deceased, Ponyboy is raised by his two older brothers, who are also gang members. This intense solidarity and a worldview focused on immediacy and instant gratification may be one of the most accurate depictions of the teenage mindset in contemporary literature.

Another central theme in the novel is class conflict, exemplified by a climactic gang fight between the "greasers," Ponyboy's group, and the "Socs," the wealthier, middle-class faction. This conflict manifests as an ongoing feud between the two groups. Brutal attacks by roaming packs of teenagers from the opposing group are common, and only quick thinking or assistance from one's own gang can ensure safety. Each group has its "territory" that must be defended to uphold the gang's honor. Furthermore, relationships are expected to occur solely within one's gang and their immediate family members. When Ponyboy befriends a Soc girl, he and his friend Johnny are attacked by a group of Socs. "You're outa your territory," Johnny tells them. They retort, "Next time you want a broad, pick up ye own kind—dirt." Hinton uses this social issue to drive the plot forward.

The issue of illicit drug use, a major societal concern today, is addressed uniquely by Hinton. Her protagonists do not indulge in illegal drugs and generally disapprove of those who do. When readers observe Ponyboy smoking constantly (as many teenagers do), it is tobacco, not marijuana. In fact, Ponyboy dislikes alcohol; it makes him sick. He tells readers, “I tried drinking once before. The stuff tasted awful, I got sick.” When he and Johnny encounter a group of Socs about to confront them, he is particularly scared because a “cool deadly bluff” won’t work if the Socs are drunk. Hinton’s stance on alcohol and drugs may partly stem from the generally intelligent narrators she employs, making it easier for readers to accept the other harsh realities of social life in the novel without alienating those opposed to drug use.

Relationships with the opposite sex are always depicted from a male perspective because the narrator is always male. While the significant social issue of unwanted pregnancies is mentioned, it is presented more as an erotic concern than a social one. Girls are primarily seen as needing protection (if they are related to a gang member), as objects of immediate gratification, and as a means to gain status within the group. In Hinton’s world, unwanted pregnancies often lead to marriage rather than abortion, and the male viewpoint significantly influences the portrayal of this modern problem.

All these social concerns converge in the perspective on values within the works. Because the world is inhabited by young teenagers, there is an urgency to everything that happens and everything that is desired. The young characters in the novel cannot and do not plan for the future. After Johnny kills a Soc during the “pack” attack scene in The Outsiders, he and Ponyboy can only think about immediate escape and finding someone to help them. This focus on living in the present leads the characters to have less appreciation for their individual identities and more emphasis on establishing their identities through their peer group. Consequently, this group identity prevents many from gaining true self-awareness, which would lead to the development of a conscience and a concern for the social norms and values that adults typically view as proper behavior.

Additional Commentary

The Outsiders was one of the first so-called “problem” novels, addressing issues such as poverty, class conflict, teenage violence, family difficulties, and child abuse. Some parents and teachers have criticized the book for glamorizing violence and gangs. However, Ponyboy dislikes meaningless fighting and is dismayed by the lack of ambition among most gang members, and it is with Ponyboy and his feelings that most readers will identify.

The central theme of this story revolves around the conflict between the impoverished and the affluent classes. The Socs label everyone from Ponyboy's neighborhood as hoodlums, stripping the greasers of their humanity. The greasers, in turn, also harbor prejudices against the Socs, though Hinton downplays this aspect. Both groups are culpable: neither makes an effort to understand the other's struggles, and both resort to violence. A crucial point, often overlooked by critics, is that Ponyboy offers a resolution to this cycle of violence and revenge. By listening to Cherry, he learns that the Socs face significant issues such as indulgent or absent parents, a lack of responsibility, and ultimately, low self-esteem. As Ponyboy's hatred diminishes through understanding, he realizes that dialogue, not violence, is the only solution.

Hinton has justified the presence of violence in the novel, stating that it reflects the real experiences of teenagers. While the violence in The Outsiders is portrayed realistically, Hinton does not focus on graphic details. Parents and teachers should encourage discussions about Ponyboy's perspectives on gangs and fighting, and how these views evolve throughout the story.

Greasers can’t walk alone too much or they’ll get jumped, or someone will come by and yell “Greaser” at them, which doesn’t make you feel too hot, if you know what I mean.

Family conflict is another significant issue in The Outsiders. Although Darry and Ponyboy clash, readers understand that they love each other, and the brothers eventually reconcile their feelings as the story progresses. Johnny, however, comes from an abusive household, where his parents constantly fight and either ignore or berate and beat him. Consequently, Johnny suffers from low self-esteem and extreme shyness. He yearns for a loving home, knowing he will never have one. Educators may wish to discuss Johnny's feelings about himself and his parents, and suggest ways he might have improved his life, such as seeking counseling or moving into a foster home.

Perhaps the most intriguing issue with The Outsiders is its sexism. Hinton predominantly focuses on male characters and offers little commentary, let alone anything positive, about the female counterparts of the greasers. When Dally harasses Cherry and Marcia at the drive-in, Ponyboy admits he would probably have joined in if the girls had been "our kind" but refrained because they were "nice" girls. This attitude is inconsistent for someone who opposes labeling and stereotyping. Parents and teachers should discuss this inconsistency in Ponyboy's beliefs and address the double standards that many people hold for boys and girls.

The Outsiders is socially aware to an extent and tackles several important issues—teenage gangs, violence, and child abuse—that were not typical subjects for young adult novels in 1967. Hinton addresses these topics in a subtle yet powerful manner.