The Career Contingencies of Rounders

Abstract

<p>This thesis examines the career contingencies of street hustlers or "rounders" from an ethnographic, symbolic interactionists perspective. It examines the contingencies involved in facilitating initial involvements in the rounder subculture, what is involved in maintaining continuity (rounding as a way of life) and how disinvolvement from criminal involvements take place. The information for this thesis is based on interviews and observations of rounders resulting from the author's ten year acqauaintance of the rounder subculture. Salient throughout the thesis is the theme of interrelatedness and activity entanglements, that is the roles of others involved in the rounder subculture in terms of facilitating involvements, continuity and disinvolvements.</p>