An
alternative lifestyle is a
lifestyle diverse in respect to
mainstream ones, or generally perceived to be outside the cultural
norm. Lifestyle is a
media culture term derived from the concept of
style in art. Usually, but not always, it implies an affinity or identification within some matching
subculture (examples include
hippies,
goths and
punks). Some people with alternative lifestyles mix certain elements of various subcultures (e.g.,
grunge musicians were often influenced by a mixture of the
punk,
hippie,
emo and
heavy metal subcultures). Not all minority lifestyles are held to be "alternative"; the term tends to imply newer forms of lifestyle, often based upon enlarged freedoms (especially in the sphere of social styles) or a decision to substitute another approach or not enter the usual expected path in most societies.