What are the predicaments and advantages of 'being young' in contemporary world societies - Essay Example

?Introduction In the contemporary world, being young has various meanings, but in most societies, it refers to the youth. The word youth has different interpretations and it mainly depends on the context under which it is applied. There are various parameters used to define youth and according to Woodward (2002, p27), youth is a transition stage between childhood and adulthood. The youth comprises of a sequence of changes from dependence to independence, and from being the beneficiaries of social services to being valuable participants to the economic, political and cultural aspects of a society (Woodward, 2002, p32). Concerning age, youth are regarded as young people aged from 15 to 24 years (Lee, 2001 p39. In any given society, differences between groups and individuals are natural occurrence, and it does not necessarily mean that a particular group of people is superior or inferior to another. In this respect, classifying people in given groups does not simply imply existence of inequalities, but it is an indication of diversity. However, Lee (2001, p 41) notes that “development of society is unfortunately the progression of inequality”. This paper investigates the predicaments and advantages of being young in the contemporary world. Youth and social structure Before looking at the challenges and benefits of being young, it is important to investigate social structure and interactions in the society. In every society, people of different groups interact with one another in order to enhance survival of the humanity. Participation of many and different groups of people in any social endeavour enhances greater achievement. Social structures are characteristics of a social entity that portrays a degree of permanence; interrelationship and they also determine the performance or working of the entire entity and the activities of individual members. Therefore, in society people form regular and persistent relations, but not random or accidental associations. This implies that although society is amorphous, people are differentiated into groups, positions and in institutions, all of which depend on each other (Best, 2005, p57) Best, (2005, p63) noted that the individuals do not predetermine the differentiated and interconnected characteristics of the groups, but the environment influences the individual’s choice. In this regard, the apparent social structure is an indication that people do not have absolute independence in choosing what to do, but are restricted by the social environment and relationships they form with each other. Therefore, social structure is occasionally considered as synchronised social relation, characterized by regular and recurring elements of the interrelations between members of particular social group (Wilkinson and Pickett, 2009, p 29). As the group becomes larger, the distinct characteristics become abstract and less defined leading to the formation of subcultures (Hebdige, 1979, p33). In small groups, the defining social structure tends to be almost similar to individual characteristics of its members but the larger society. In this regard, each group in social structure has its unique characteristics, but they tend to become more refined and unique as the group becomes smaller. According to Bottero (2005, pp78-84), social life is controlled by time and space, whereby particular social undertakings are conducted at given time. The time available is further subdivided into the periods that are synchronized with the routines in a day, month or year. These activities happen in defined social places, built for that particular uses, such as worship houses, and working places, and learning institutions among others. However, these places are defined by territorial boundaries, and according to Bottero (2005, p 87), property rules define the boundaries. The property rules determine the users or the owners of the particular scarce goods and services. In addition, division of labour whereby people are structured to participate in various income generating activities to sustain themselves characterizes every society. Violence is another characteristic that define society and in order to regulate its use, people form political units such as states within which the use of violence is controlled. In such situations, use of violence is normally controlled, directed to aggressors and outsiders (Best, 2005, p95). Other important arrangements within a social structure include education for young people and sexual reproduction provision to perpetuate the human race. these arrangements results into marriage relations and formation of kingship. Finally, language plays a fundamental role in social structure between members of a group and any social entity (Flyn, and Brotherton, 2008). Social stratification and class Several theorists have brought forward different theories to explain the effects of these interactions in the society. For instance, Robert Merton argues that the “social structure consists normative patterns and equally important inequalities of power, material privileges and status and this results to disparities of the community members in accessing opportunities and other alternatives” (France, 2007: p105). In this respect, the inequalities results to social differentiation of the social fabric, forming the classes or strata. These eventually results to formation of class structure in society. Bottero (2005) argues that both normative and possessive elements are closely related and it is not surprising for members of the same class to have different norms and values. In this case, a class is large group of people who consider themselves and regarded by other people as having similar status in terms of their wealth, power and prestige (Bottero, 2005). Marsh, et al (2000) defined wealth as material possessions that are regarded as valuable in most societies such as jewellery, land, buildings, money and other forms of property. The consequence of this social stratification is that it results to formation of particular norms in the society not to serve the majority, but the members of the most powerful class. In this case, people with power and vested interests compel the less powerful to accept the norms regardless of their moral value. Therefore, power inequalities between groups with conflicting interest results in formation of different norms, values and ideas in the society. Karl Marx devised one of the most influential theories of explaining inequalities in the society. The Marxian theory holds that that the “ideas of the ruling class are in every age, the ruling ideas” (Woodward, 2002). In this case, the ‘ruling ideas’ reflect the interests of the class and are linked to the power structure, which is indentified with the class structure. In this case, France (2007, p42) defines powers as the degree in which individuals or groups of persons force their will on others and seek obedience from them even without their consent. Authority is a form of legitimate power and in most cases; people with power often legitimize their use of power on other less powerful members of the society. The youth and interactions in the society The young people in the society are subject to these social structures. In the course of their social interactions, they adapt and relate differently with various social structures. For instance, some drop out of education and purse employment, others become independent from their parents or families while some enhance their status in the society. In contemporary society, Fulcher and Scott (2003, p 69) argue that it is difficult to determine the age at which youth stage begins or ends and in this case, this phase appears to be getting longer. For instance, it is very common for people above the age of 25 to be dependent on their parents for longer period. However in some communities, the transition between childhood and adulthood is clearly marked by a series of rituals or rites and in such situations, there is no period of youth stage. Sociologists argue that young people or the youth are products of social structures. In this regard, the society creates the manner in which we understand and experience young people (Kontos, Barrios, and Brotherton, 2003). In society, young people form sub cultural groups, characterised by particular distinctive styles. For instance, the youth have a distinct mode of dressing, speaking, entertainment and they gather in particular places. In this case, these similar characteristics demonstrate shared values. Lee (2001, p128) argues that culture is a learned behaviour that has been acquired socially. For instance during the industrialization era, children or young people had different experiences. The concept of teenage was not present in Britain and before the war and young children at the age of five were working in mines and sweeping industrial chimneys during the Victorian era (Hall, and Jefferson, 1975). However, the modern British society has stringent laws that protect the welfare of children. Different cultures have various patterns through which a child develops into an adult. For instance, some communities conduct particular rites of passage such as circumcision on both girls and boy to symbolize the transition from childhood to adulthood. In such situations, the communities do not have an allowance for the youth stage. In western cultures, the transition from childhood to adulthood is rather long. In Britain for instance, the 16th, 18th and 21st birthdays do not necessarily indicate attainment of adulthood, but they are age milestones that define particular role and responsibilities that the young persons can perform. In this case, the transition to adulthood is rather prolonged and is defined by various age limits, through which a young person can enjoy various adult responsibilities and rights (Hall, and Jefferson, 1975). Factors influencing behaviour of the youth in society Various factors have contributed to the development of the youth subcultures. These include the increased affluence and participation of women in the labour market. This increased the level of disposable income in the family, meaning that young people had greater access to their parents’ resources. In addition, the youth were capable of accessing job opportunities and they had no pressure to share the money in the family setting. Therefore, young people have greater freedom of using their money in various ways such as having fun and drinking because they do not have family responsibilities (Giddens, 2006). Another factor that led to development of the youth subculture includes the raising consumer behaviour. Since the 1950’s, Hebdige (1979, p 73) noted that increasing number of youth began having significant effect on media, and entertainment resulting to an explosion of youth culture in the 1960’s. The subsequent decades were characterized by increasing youth identity and higher income for the working young people. This resulted to development of a distinct niche, that attracted the interests of corporate organization, targeting the youth as a valuable market segment for goods and services specifically made for their tastes. Consequently, the young people’s preferences and tastes became influential factor in setting fashion trends in dressing, films, literature, food and other lifestyles. In response the newly created market niche, companies invested heavily in fashion industry, music and entertainment, targeting the affluent young person (Buchanan, 2002, p 129). Advertisements further heightened and solidified the free spending and trendy lifestyle of the young persons in the society. Buchanan, (2002, p 131) notes that advertisements promised the youth an exciting experience after using the goods and services being promoted. In this respect, the development of capitalistic culture in addition to entertainment and leisure industries provided the youth with the cultural resources to develop their own identity. These changes among the youth were accompanied by high level of independence, whereby working young people moved out of their homes before getting married and engage in premarital sex with greater freedom especially after the introduction of contraceptives in the market. Currently, the youth have a wide range of styles to express their identity depending on their cultural background. For instance, a youth in United Kingdom do not dress or behave like a young person from developing country, but they still share distinct characteristics unique at this stage. Prolonging the schooling period in the United Kingdom is another factor that caused development of youth culture. Marsh, et al (2000) noted that the introduction of free education and extension of education to 16 years increased the time for youth interactions, providing them with time to form their own identities and cultures. This resulted to development of many youth subcultures and changes in behaviour of the young persons, including involvement in deviant habits. Predicaments and advantages of the youth in the society The position of youth in the society plays a major role in shaping and influencing their behaviour. As we have already noted the youth largely form a group characterized by high spending and identity crisis. This puts them in a precarious social position because they lack power and wealth. In societies that lack strong economies and social structures, the youth become increasingly marginalized by the dominant culture. This results to conflict, as the youth try to resist dominance (Montgomery, 1991). However, in societies where the youth are linked to the dominant class, such conflicts are non-existent. A study conducted by Buchanan (2002, p 39) established several features that characterize youth culture. These include language, style, class, rebellion, gender, art, association with the dominant culture and the extent at which they are open to outsiders. Young people from different social classes behave differently. Kontos, Barrios and Brotherton (2003, p68) noted that in various social economic groups, the youth have different characteristics caused by distinct defining factors in a given class. For example, youth from working class communities interact with their parents more closely than in the middle and upper classes. The social changes and social structure present the youth with both opportunities and challenges. Some of the challenges facing the young people in the contemporary world include identity crisis, lack of self-confidence, high levels of unemployment, confusion on morality, negative influence from the media in addition to high level of competition that undermines their social mobility (Fulcher, and Scott, 2003, p 175). According to Best (2005), identity crisis presents a major challenge to the youth as they attempt to establish their identity in the society. This predicament is heightened by the fact that the society has particular norms to guide the youth until they became adults. As a result, the youth are faced with the dilemma of conforming or rebelling with the established order in the society. This makes the youth vulnerable to negative influence especially in societies where accumulation of wealth is more important than morality. In this regard, the youth face the pressure to accomplish societal goals, such as such as success in education, securing respectable and well paying jobs and finally getting married and becoming responsible to their families. Young people who fail to achieve the goals lose self-confidence on their ability to make it in life and they sometimes relapse into self-pity and feeling of worthlessness. This results to lack of self-initiative in life, a situation that leads to prolonged dependence on their families and society. In addition, lack of self-confidence and hopelessness enhance their vulnerability to more powerful and wealthy classes in the society. This results to various forms of exploitation, including getting low wages, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and in some developing countries, the youths are used as child soldiers, causing civil unrest and political instability that mostly benefit the warlords. Exposure to electronic media subjects young people to negative influence, such as early sexual experimentation, drug and substance abuse and other immoral behaviours. Early sexual experimentation endangers sexual reproduction health of young people, by exposing them to sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and other social problems (Woodward, 2002). These challenges compromise on their ability to become responsible and economically productive members of the society when they become old. In spite of these challenges, young people in the contemporary society have several advantages. These include few responsibilities, because they mainly depend on their parents for financial support. In this regard, they do not have financial obligations such as paying bills, education or other commitments. Young people have better access to education opportunities than adults do. Many developed countries provide education freely to the youth, and this enhances their ability to enhance their skills and become productive members in the society. According to Giddens (2006), the current youths are more educated than their parents are and this has enhanced their creativity and innovation in the society resulting to new discoveries and inventions. By the virtue of their young age, the youth are physically and mentally robust. In this case, they are more versatile in the society whereby they can engage in a wider range of activities than older people can. In this case, the youthful stage provides them with limitless opportunities of exploring their full potentials in different disciplines, including academic, sports, entertainment among others. Therefore, the youth in the contemporary society are not limited to pursuing particular careers; they have wider choice depending on their ability and interests. Conclusion Currently the youth have numerous subcultures, than in the last two decades and beyond. France (2007, p136) attributes this trend to the increasing size of societies, made possible by immigration, and increasing avenues of interaction. The rate of change in the society has increased tremendously in the recent times and this denies the youth a smooth transition into adulthood. Consequently, they adapt different and unique habits from their parents. Woodward, (2002, p83) argues that the greater the change in the society, the more intense and stronger the subculture as young people identify more with their subculture in order to find identity and security. These changes are further increased by globalization, which has enhanced the rate at which information is transmitted and accessed at unprecedented rate. In a society widely connected through information technology, young people face intense and simultaneous pressure to unite and fragment at the same time. These changes in the social structure presents the youth with both challenges and opportunities for self-development and subsequent independence in the society. However, social stratification in the society has undermined their social mobility, especially among the youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. References Best, S. (2005). Understanding social divisions. London: Sage. Bottero, W. (2005). Stratification: social divisions and inequality. London: Routledge. Buchanan, M. 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