Sociological theme: Youth Culture
Source: Wikipedia.com
Key skills:
Communication
Sociological skill:
Learning to think sociologically
Definition of ‘youth’ from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Popular use of the word youth refers to a person who is neither an adult nor a child, but
somewhere in between, scientifically referred to as an adolescent and, in the United
States, commonly referred to as a teen or teenager. It is used to identify a particular
mindset of attitude, as in "He is very youthful."
The age in which a person is considered a "youth," and thus eligible for special
treatment under the law and throughout society varies around the world. Commonly, a
youth is defined as being somewhere between age 12 and age 25, with different
countries and administrative regions choosing more narrow definitions within that frame.
This treatment is increasingly neglible or negative, particularly in the United States
where youth are routinely sentenced to longer sentences for similar crimes as adults.
In various social, political, cultural, and legal contexts, the word "youth" refers to a predetermined set of experiences, ideals, and perspectives.
Questions: Knowledge and Interpretation
1. Would you agree with the definition of youth as given by Wikipedia?
2. At what age in Great Britain is a person considered a “youth”?
3. Would you say that the treatment of youth is the same or different in Great Britain
to that of the United States?
4. In what way do youth have special treatment in Britain?
5. What do you think the writer means when they say “This treatment is increasingly
neglible or negative…”
6. Using this definition of youth, does this mean that youth have their own culture?
Questions: Knowledge and Interpretation
7. Discuss the view that youth culture is a social construction?
Personal research: Use the Internet or textbooks
Find a definition of youth culture which encompases the above definition of
youth.
Methodology
How could you design a reliable and valid research study into people’s perception of
youth culture? What ethical and practical problems might you experience?