The Social Construction of Youth Objectives:- Understand the ways that youth has changed over the last century Be able to explain why Youth can be seen as a social construction bWyOo

Has Childhood always existed?

Before 1600 At 5 a child would “belong” to a world of Work, Leisure and Sex- Most of the evidence for this comes from paintings and it is arguable Children were an economic asset- industrialisation in the early stages depended on the skills of children- children provided insurance for their parents in later life… Very little love or affection was shown to children. Children’s wages, although small, were an important financial benefit to a family… Historical changes in the concept of Childhood…

The financial role of children was marginalised as industrialisation steamed forward… There were now more restrictions in place, for example: compulsory education. Middle class children were assumed to lack competencies of adults and were therefore in need of protection and guidance… Working class children were thought to be born corrupt and wicked and had to be taught and controlled… Children became economically worthless but emotionally priceless. Children needed love and attention and were sheltered from the world… Children had now divided themselves in to sub-cultures that the adult did not understand. Childhood became a time where things were supposed to be magical and fun.

1950-Present day Growing awareness of children’s rights and empowerment. Children are seen as active families and make more of a democratic contribution to the family through things like housework etc. Young people form a growing economic force in society and in the family. Children target by commerce (trade) in own right. DON’T HIT CHILDREN THEY HAVE GUNS NOW

Youth as a social construction A ‘Youth’ - a person between 15 and 25. ‘Youths’ are NOT all the same despite stereotypes they are a diverse group. The appearance of ‘Youth’ is also something desired by older people who might buy goods originally aimed at young people. E.g playstation. Many children also seek the ‘youth’ style e.g tweens of

Changes in laws reflecting changing attitudes to age First law protecting children from abuse 1889 – It was mostly ineffective and child cruelty and prostitution was still common. Official age of consent in 1880s – 1 st wave feminist campaigns successfully raised it to 16 in Compulsory school leaving age in – raised to 16 and now 18 in Year that consumption of alcohol was restricted by age 1937

Task Read page 13 in booklets and then answer questions 1-8.

Has Youth culture always existed? Objectives: To explore the question of whether youth culture has always existed. To be able to identify factors which lead to the development of youth culture.

Factors which affected the development of Youth Culture Post War economy and capitalism Schooling The USA and Globalisation Demographic changes The Media Consumerism and style s s

The Development of Sub-cultures Reasons for the development of sub-cultures vary according to what perspective you use. 1. Crisis of identity 2. Rite of Passage 3. Resistance to mainstream culture 4. Oppression of capitalist society 5. Style and Music

Describe the norms and values Geeks Boffs Plastics Emo kids Lads ??????? Any others What would you have to do to become a member of their culture?

Essay plan Explain the meaning of ‘the social construction of youth’ (15 Marks) Intro explain what social construction means Explain what ‘youth’ means AO2 evaluate the term ‘youth’ is it ALL youth, it is just for year olds? Explain that the concept of ‘youth’ has not always existed. AO2 provide examples of changes which occurred over 100 yrs AO2 these could be seen as very simplistic of how parents treated their children. Explain the factors that led to the emergence of youth culture in the UK. AO2 Marxists might say ‘youth culture’ was driven by economic factors – wanting profit from young people / consumerism/music/fashion. Explain how the emergance of ‘youth culture’ led to the creation of sub- cultures within youth with their own styles, music e.g Goths AO2 Not all ‘youths’ belong to sub-cultures most are ordinary Conclusion - The phase now known as ‘youth’ has evolved through social change and varies across time and place e.g some cultures still use child labour so therefore it must be a social construction.

Task Read page 16 in booklets about the Colombine killings. Discuss the pro’s and con’s of having sub- cultures in schools. What sub-culture did Harris and Klebold belong to? Which of the explanations earlier might be able to explain their behaviour?

Objectives To understand the significance of the 1960s for Mainstream British culture Youth culture Counter-cultures Attempt to digest some undergraduate level text on developments in the sixties.

Food for thought Do ALL young people belong to sub-cultures? How would you describe the ones that don’t? Are young people all politically aware? Do all children suffer a crisis of identity? w w

Censorship in the sixties By the 1960’s America was spawning a new culture altogether, the “Counterculture” from a generation known as the “baby boomers”; these young adults were born after WWII from about During the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Cinema would never be the same and censorship as it was known for over four decades was literally “rocked and rolled”. Did the Counterculture generation challenge censorship and freedom of expression, bringing an end to the Code as we knew it? Or did the Cinema challenge censorship when they saw an opportunity to capitalize on a generation which had become a disillusioned and disappointed culture?

What function do you think youth culture serves? Think about how youth has changed since WWII and what need you think youth culture satisfies. Functionalists believe that youth culture offers young people a transitory phase between childhood and adulthood. This allows for social integration. What would happen if there was no phase?

A Rite of passage Talcott Parsons (1954) Functionalist, stated that this phase allows young people to become more separated from parents paving the way for independence later on. Example – part-time job whilst in 6 th form provides a little experience of money management. Parsons viewed this as a phase through which all young people must pass.

A shared way of life Functionalists believe that shared culture is important for society and integration. Einstadt (1956) suggested youth culture binds young people together and also provides an outlet for the tensions felt by the young. Abrahms (1959) after WWII the youth had more spending power and so became an important part of the economy providing another function in society. A third function suggested is that young people suffer an identity crisis and that peer groups help them to overcome this.

Using the OCR textbook answer these questions 1.Explain the term ‘rite of passage’ 2.Explain two important functions that youth culture serves according to Einstadt and Abrams. 3. Analyse and evaluate each point

Youth Culture as resistance to mainstream culture Marxists believe that some youth cultures have evolved as a resistance to the oppression of capitalism and the inequalities it causes in the class system. Teddy Boys (Jefferson 1976) Skinheads (Clarke 1976) Hippies (Brake 1980) Have all been linked to issues of class

Youth Subcultures NEO-MARXIST

Neo-Marxist perspective on Youth Sub- cultures – based on Marxism but with added focus on economic factors e.g Hall working for the CCCS believed that the different youth cultures exist for adolescents to distinguish themselves amongst mass culture. This can be seen as a form of resistance to authority and capitalism. Jefferson (1976) “Teddy Boys”- A group who wish to recreate a sense of working class community- due to the growing affluence in post war British society- These youth cultures believed they were gaining status and protecting territory…

Neo Marxist They criticise Functionalist perspectives which say that social class is irrelevant to the growth of youth sub-cultures. They explain the arise of some youth sub- culture in terms of class related issues like:- Unemployment in w/c type jobs e.g labouring Inner city decay Strikes

Read page of OCR book and write a paragraph explaining these concepts related to Marxist view of youth sub-culture. Include a researcher’s name. Resistance Exaggeration Magical Solutions Incorporation

Essay Plan – Discuss the view that youth cultures are a form of resistance (30) Intro- Marxists and Neo-Marxists believe that youth cultures emerge because of inequalities caused by capitalism. Other sociologists like Functionalist say the purpose of youth culture is to provide transition to adulthood (Rite of passage). However many youth cultures have been linked to class struggles and deviance. P1 – Jefferson and Teddy Boys linked to low status + criticisms and analysis P2 – Clarke and Skinheads + criticisms and analysis P3 - Brake and Hippies + criticisms and analysis P4 – Post Modernist, Thornton says club culture of the 1990s more to do with being ‘cool’ than class + criticisms and analysis P5 – We still have names for lower-class youth cultures ! What about London Riots of 2011 – evidence of resistance? Conclusion – Are youth cultures a form of resistance to capitalism or not? REMEMBER TO LINK EACH POINT TO THE QUESTION !!!!!