Access the view that youth is socially constructed.
Access the view that youth is socially constructed.
There are many different views on how youth is constructed. Biologists believe that youth is created by biological changes that are occurring, as we get older. They believe that our attitudes and behaviour changes due to biological reasons. Biologists say that teens are restless and unsure about their identity due to the hormonal changes in their bodies. However, sociologists believe that childhood is shaped by the culture and the society in which we live in. Sociologists say that childhood is socially constructed as it is affected by social and cultural factors. Biologists seem to think that childhood is the same everywhere in the world whereas sociologists say it varies between different cultures and societies.
Evidence from anthropological studies’ indicates that youth is a reflection of social values and customs. However, not every society has a ‘youth’ stage, in many cultures it’s a dramatic change from childhood right into adulthood. This transition is normally done through initiation ceremonies that are more commonly referred to as rites de passage. During this process, young people undergo training to prepare them for adult roles and responsibilities. After successfully completing the ritual, they are welcomed into adult society. In Western societies, there are a few ceremonies to mark the passage to adulthood.
Adolescence in Western society is often regarded as a time of mood swings, emotional turmoil and restless search for identity. However, Margaret Mead’s study (1928), of growing up in Samoa suggests that this is not inevitable. She argued that Samoan society allows for a peaceful and relaxing transformation to adulthood which is contrasting Western societies where young people are faced with choices between conflicting sets of values and standards. Western and Samoan youth show the importance that culture has on constructing youths in different societies that biology.
Further evidence for
There are many different views on how youth is constructed. Biologists believe that youth is created by biological changes that are occurring, as we get older. They believe that our attitudes and behaviour changes due to biological reasons. Biologists say that teens are restless and unsure about their identity due to the hormonal changes in their bodies. However, sociologists believe that childhood is shaped by the culture and the society in which we live in. Sociologists say that childhood is socially constructed as it is affected by social and cultural factors. Biologists seem to think that childhood is the same everywhere in the world whereas sociologists say it varies between different cultures and societies.
Evidence from anthropological studies’ indicates that youth is a reflection of social values and customs. However, not every society has a ‘youth’ stage, in many cultures it’s a dramatic change from childhood right into adulthood. This transition is normally done through initiation ceremonies that are more commonly referred to as rites de passage. During this process, young people undergo training to prepare them for adult roles and responsibilities. After successfully completing the ritual, they are welcomed into adult society. In Western societies, there are a few ceremonies to mark the passage to adulthood.
Adolescence in Western society is often regarded as a time of mood swings, emotional turmoil and restless search for identity. However, Margaret Mead’s study (1928), of growing up in Samoa suggests that this is not inevitable. She argued that Samoan society allows for a peaceful and relaxing transformation to adulthood which is contrasting Western societies where young people are faced with choices between conflicting sets of values and standards. Western and Samoan youth show the importance that culture has on constructing youths in different societies that biology.
Further evidence for