Street Corner Society

"Street Corner Society," written by sociologist William Foote Whyte in 1943, is a pioneering ethnographic study of a group of Italian American men in Boston's North End. Whyte immersed himself in their community, observing their daily lives, social interactions, and informal social hierarchies. The book highlights the importance of social networks and informal social structures, illustrating how these elements shape community life. Whyte’s work is significant in sociology for its innovative methodology and its insights into urban life, community dynamics, and the roles of friendship and status in social settings.