Socs (Socials):
- Social Class: The Socs come from wealthy and privileged backgrounds. They are often referred to as "the West-side rich kids."
- Appearance: The Socs are typically well-dressed and follow the latest fashion trends. They are often seen wearing designer clothes, leather jackets, and slicked-back hair.
- Values and Behaviors: The Socs value popularity, wealth, and social status. They are often portrayed as arrogant, entitled, and dismissive of those they consider outsiders. They enjoy spending time at drive-ins, playing sports, and attending parties.
- Activities and Interests: The Socs are involved in various extracurricular activities such as sports, cheerleading, and social clubs. They spend time socializing, attending school events, and participating in social functions.
Greasers:
- Social Class: The Greasers come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. They are often referred to as "the East-side roughnecks."
- Appearance: The Greasers have a distinct style that sets them apart from the Socs. They typically wear blue jeans, leather jackets, T-shirts, and boots. They often have long, greased-back hair and wear switchblades or pocket knives.
- Values and Behaviors: The Greasers value loyalty, friendship, and self-reliance. They are often portrayed as tough, rebellious, and protective of their group. They enjoy spending time at burger joints, cruising the streets, and engaging in petty crimes.
- Activities and Interests: The Greasers are often involved in street fights, reckless behavior, and other forms of delinquency. They spend time with their gang members, looking for trouble, and evading the police.
The conflict between the Socs and the Greasers revolves around their differences in social status, values, and lifestyles. The Socs often look down on the Greasers, considering them lower class and disrespectful. The Greasers, in turn, resent the Socs for their wealth and privilege, seeing them as detached from the struggles and realities of their lives. This tension leads to frequent clashes and confrontations between the two groups.