Rethinking Youth Political Socialization

Abstract

This article draws from the experiences and narratives of teenage activists throughout the Americas in order to add a needed dimension, that of peer political socialization, to the larger political and civic socialization literature. The authors argue that although the existing literature emphasizes the roles and responsibilities of adults in shaping young people’s civic capacities, the roles that young people play in socializing each other for political engagement is underexplored. Based on two qualitative studies of teenage activists throughout North and Latin America, the authors argue that teenage activists, who are largely left out of this literature, represent a different process by which youth engage in politics. We use teenagers’ narratives about their own youth-led political socialization to extend the existing theorizing on youth civic engagement, rethink some of its core tenets, and elucidate the roles that young people themselves play in the processes of political socialization.

Climate change skepticism among adolescents

“…In addition, researchers in the field of political socialization point out that during adolescence social influence from parents decreases and peer influence becomes more important instead (Amnå et al 2009;Dostie-Goulet 2009;Gordon and Taft 2011). Through talking and communicating with peers, young people adapt to each other's value orientations, in order to be liked and accepted in the peer group (Dostie-Goulet 2009).…”

A Political Space for Children? The Age Order and Children’s Right to Participation

“…These parliaments are often initiated by adults and researchers in the field have discussed how adults in many ways simultaneously extend and shrink the political and civil participation of children and young people (Kawecka Nenga & Taft, 2013). Youth councils and children's parliaments have also been criticized by researchers for being elitist, adult-led, and empty symbols of participation (Gordon & Taft, 2011). Researchers have also discussed examples of children's parliaments where children and youth exercise direct, political power and achieve significant differences in their societies (Wall, 2012).…”

The rise of a neo-communitarian project: A critical youth work study into the pedagogy of the National Citizen Service in England

“…Gordon and Taft (2011) use the term of 'adultism' to describe young people's sense of powerlessness and discrimination in adult-led social action projects. Similarly, Kennelly (2011) refers to the idea of 'relational agency' to contextualise young people's limited power to shape social change, especially when participating in youth political activism, e.g.…”