Date of Graduation

5-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Sociology (MA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Sociology and Criminal Justice

Advisor/Mentor

Holyfield, Lori C.

Committee Member

Zajicek, Anna M.

Second Committee Member

Worden, Steven K.

Keywords

Communes; Shame; Social control; Sociology of emotions; Symbolic interaction; Utopias

Abstract

This thesis employs ethnographic fieldwork and interviews to examine internal Social control, ideological embeddedness, and resistance to mainstream culture and ideology in a utopian, counter-cultural group called The Rainbow Family of Living Light. Combining theoretical perspectives on emotions and re-integrative and dis-integrative shaming with symbolic interaction, I examine the experiences of Rainbow during a national Gathering in the summer of 2010. Through interviews and observations, I illustrate the rituals, organization of camp, stratification based on work, and solidarity building activities, that Rainbow Gatherers create to resist mainstream ideology and culture. Further, I show that they Rainbow Gatherers redefine deviance in significant ways and promote ideological solidarity to achieve integration and membership in their perceived utopian community. Finally, I demonstrate how this group uses elements of internal Social control to manage behavior defined by the group as deviant. Suggestions for future research are provided.

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