Directivity and Freedom

Abstract

Community-based youth organizations represent potentially powerful settings for activism among marginalized urban youth. This article uses quantitative and qualitative data collected in one such organization to examine the link between youth—adult relationships and youth activism. Survey data point to adults as contributing to youth's activist development and reveal pathways that lead to this outcome. Interview and observation data clarify youth's perceptions of adult support, highlight the complexity of building egalitarian relationships, and situate youth—adult interactions within broader public action. Analyses direct attention to transformations among youth and convey the challenges inherent in breaking out of conventional patterns of youth—adult interaction.

Quality of Participation in Youth Organizations: Relationships With Identity and Sense of Sociopolitical Control

“…This significant interaction expands previous findings (Kirshner, 2008(Kirshner, , 2009Larson & Hansen, 2005;Larson & Angus, 2011;O'Donoghue & Strobel, 2007;Zeldin, 2004) and suggests that caring and respect for youth's contribution amplifies the effects that AP has on outcomes of the political domain (Kirshner, 2009;O'Donoghue & Strobel, 2007;Zeldin, 2004). This finding confirms previous ones in classroom settings showing that teachers' practices that promoted respect and tolerance were associated with secondary students' disposition to political action, and practices that promoted leadership were associated with students' political efficacy (Martínez & Cumsille, 2010).…”

“…For example, Larson and Hansen (2005) found that adult partners’ provision of training experiences expanded the capacity to exercise agency in participants of an activist organization. Similarly, O’Donoghue and Strobel (2007) reported that adult provision of feedback bolstered youths’ sense of efficacy. Together, these findings suggest that emotional support, instrumental support, and personalized feedback during the execution of activities are key dimensions of the relationships established between organization members that account for positive youth outcomes.…”

“…Similarly, nondirective support provided by adult or peer partners can favor learning of cognitive and instrumental skills related to goal achievement and strategic thinking ( Larson & Hansen, 2005). Finally, feedback provided by adult partners can also promote identity reflection on the way youth are perceived by others (O'Donoghue & Strobel, 2007).…”

“…In addition, the role that relationships fostered among organization members play in enhancing youth's motivation and confidence in their own abilities (O'Donoghue & Strobel, 2007) has been discussed. However, most of the studies to date have used qualitative designs and their results though comprehensive, prevent identifying which dimensions of youth participation are more important to account for outcomes on identity or sense of sociopolitical control, or to ponder the joint contribution of these dimensions (Larson, 2000;Zeldin et al, 2005).…”

“…Larson and Angus (2011) similarly observed that creating a security context for personal experimentation, and the expression of thoughts and feelings fostered youth initiative. Using interviews and observational research in a community-based youth organization, O’Donoghue and Strobel (2007) found that establishing egalitarian, democratic, and nonhierarchical relationships between young participants and adult partners increased youths’ contribution to the organization. Specifically, they found that adult partners’ caring and understanding were associated to youth voice and engagement in public action.…”