2. Lesson 10 - Youth & Identity

Youth and Identity Learning Intentions

  • Understand the social construction of youth.

  • Explore how agents of socialization reinforce age identities.

Youth as a Social Construct

  • Sociologists argue that youth is defined by society and varies across cultures and history.

  • In modern industrial societies, youth is perceived differently than in other societies.

  • Historical Perspective:

    • In the past, children were viewed as mini adults and expected to work.

    • Helicopter Parenting: The modern view sees children as vulnerable, requiring protection.

    • The internet and social media contribute to questions about the clear distinction between childhood and adulthood.

Changes in Perceptions of Age

  • Recent discussions in society include the:

    • Proposal to gradually raise the smoking age beyond 18.

    • New laws increasing the minimum marriage age to 18 in England and Wales.

Has Childhood Improved or Deteriorated?

Perspectives on Childhood

  • March of Progress View:

    • Society places importance on children, investing more in their upbringing and rights.

  • Toxic Childhood:

    • Rapid changes in technology and culture have harmed children psychologically and physically.

    • Declines in outdoor play lead to reduced development of basic skills and increased anxiety.

Cultural Definitions of Youth

  • Sateré-Mawé Tribe: Youth defined through rites of passage to adulthood.

Youth Subcultures

Definition and Characteristics

  • A subculture is a smaller group diverging from the dominant culture, with unique norms and values.

  • Adolescents may join subcultures for:

    • Exploration and identity formation.

    • Seeking belonging due to lower societal status.

    • Examples of subcultures include goths, chavs, and emos.

'Spectacular' Youth Subcultures

  • Subcultures known for their visible nature and challenge to social norms:

    • Mods & Rockers (1960s)

    • Skinheads (1960s/70s)

    • Hippies (1960s/70s)

    • Punks (1970s/80s)

    • Rastafarians (1970s/80s)

  • Early studies emphasized social class as a key feature of youth subcultures.

Key Study: The Mods and Rockers (1960s)

Modern Youth Subcultures

  • E-girls and E-boys:

    • Emerged in the late 2010s, influenced by TikTok with roots in emo and Japanese fashion.

    • Associated with cultural movements like the grime renaissance and UK roadman fashion.

Youth Subcultures on TikTok

  • Examples include:

    • CottageCore, Baddies, WitchTok: Focus on calm, confidence, fantasy, and empowerment.

    • E-girls/E-boys, FitTok, Dark Academia: Blend of interests like cosplay, fitness, literature, and lifestyle.

Sociological Perspectives on Youth & Subcultures

Understanding Theories

  • Theories posed include:

    • Functionalism

    • Marxism

    • Feminism

    • Postmodernism

  • Questions to explore:

    • What is the purpose of youth subcultures?

    • Why do they form?

    • Are youth experiences uniform?

Functionalism

  • General View:

    • Sees youth as a singular culture, bridging childhood and adulthood.

    • Youth culture offers social solidarity and helps youth navigate a stressful transitional phase.

    • Provides a space for rebellion and tension release, crucial for future societal roles.

Marxism

  • Resistance Against Capitalism:

    • Subcultures like punks create alternative identities; use of bricolage reflects resistance to consumer culture.

    • Brake argues that working-class youth feel powerless but gain a false sense of resistance through subcultures.

Feminism

  • Critiques male-centric views, emphasizing how girls' identities are shaped by stricter familial controls.

  • McRobbie's Bedroom Culture: Focus on girls' private spaces for identity development, separate from public subcultures.

Gender in Subcultures Today

  • Contemporary society sees girls gaining more control over their identities.

  • Lads and Ladettes: Both genders participate in similar mainstream activities.

Postmodernism

  • Youth respond individually and temporarily to transition challenges.

  • Emergence of Neo-Tribes:

    • Fluidity in group identity based on media and consumption.

    • Youth navigate multiple identities, moving between different groups.

Evaluation of Perspectives on Subcultures

  • Functionalism: Overlooks diversity within youth; assumes one culture.

  • Marxism: Assumes a uniform purpose in subcultures as resistance against capitalism; doesn't account for diverse identities.

  • Feminism: Points to exclusion in male-dominated cultures; critiques lack of representation for girls.

  • Postmodernism: Neo-Tribes encourage consumption rather than resistance.

Institutions Reinforcing Age Identities

Overview of Institutions

  • Key areas to focus on:

    • Education

    • Family

    • Media

    • Religion

    • Workplace

Family

  • Ageist stereotypes begin at home, fostering identities marked by dependency for the elderly and low status for the youth.

Education

  • Reinforces hierarchical structures, helping youth learn about their low societal status.

Workplace

  • Youth often earn less and hold less responsibility, highlighting societal views of their lower status.

  • Retirement ages further reinforce notions of incapacity associated with older individuals.

Peers

  • Peer groups shape identity through expectations, demonstrating the importance of belonging and status among youth.

Media

  • Age portrayed in media tends to be stereotypical and often negative, affecting perceptions of youth and elderly identities.

    • Youth seen as troublesome.

    • Aging sometimes treated with neglect or stereotyping.

Media Example: Celebrity Aging

  • Critique of how female celebrities face scrutiny over their aging compared to their male counterparts, illustrating societal double standards.