Changing Lifestyles And Values Of Young People

Changing lifestyles and values of young people International Youth Researcher Meeting September 22nd - 23rd , 2009 Vienna Helena Helve Professor, University of Tampere Director WORK-Preca Research Project, Academy of Finland [email protected] [email protected]

WHAT DOES YOUTH MEAN?

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the passage from a dependent childhood to independent adulthood choices and risks age insufficient indicator category of youth is elastic age is socially constructed, institutionalized and controlled in historically and culturally specific ways

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Need for historical, cultural, social and political research perspectives

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Need to understand the processes of transition to adulthood, youth identity and citizenship against the background of demographic, social, political, cultural, economic, climate and technological change

THE CHANGING LIFE-STYLES AND VALUES OF THE YOUNG PERSISTING TEMPORARY UNEMPLOYED IN THE DIFFERENT LABOUR MARKETS OF FINLAND WORK-Preca WORK AND WELL-BEING 2008-2011. Academy of Finland

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Director: Helena Helve Researchers: Jaana Lähteenmaa (post doc) Marjaana Kojo and Anna Sell (doc. Students) www.nuorisotutkimusseura.fi/workpreca

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’s e l p peo g un o y n) or f o i t s ge arisa n e l hal la préc c New ariat ( c pre

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s– r e are

After 1990 ´s the unemployment rates high Permanently short-term employment/project contracts Changing meaning of employment/ unemployment Difficulties in future planning Differences among the lifestyles, values and future orientations Migration alacrity of the YP in the remote areas Needs for multidimensional and multidisciplinary research perspectives

Social and identity capital of YP (SoCa BeSS: Helve, Honkasalo, Kokkonen, Kuusisto, Louhivuori, 2004 – 2007, Academy of Finland)

 Family

- intergenerational solidarity  SC of YP develop the society as whole  Formal and non-formal learning - identity formation  YP as resource  Trust-based relationships - new social capital  New technology – new trust and SC 

Youth and Social Capital (eds. H. Helve & J. Bynner, Tufnell Press 2007)

Polarization of young people (Nuoret ja polariasaatio2008, Nuorisotutkimusverkosto, julkaisuja 84)

Social and Cultural Challenges: Loneliness – gender biased School-bullying Problems with peers and bonding with peer groups Sexual harassment – the sexualisation of the culture Mental health problems School drop-out, migration background, disablement and early independence Juvenile delinquency, unemployment, homelessness, poverty Unhealthy youth cultures and life-styles Opportunity: Participation prevent marginalisation

Virtual life: communal life and mental state of young people  Need

of research on risks and opportunities

Ethical action competence 

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Demands of personal choices, responsible decision-making and action Need of human security and ethical action competence Vulnerability - narrow identity horizon – Identity anxiety

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Opportunity: broad identity horizon Horizon of hope Need for research on values, worldviews, citizenship rights, participation, globalization and environmental and social harmony

Challenges and opportunities   

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need to evidence base knowledge for EU politics new approaches and practices youth cultural research new youth cultures and cultural lifestyles i.e. Internet need of rethinking youth

YP as a positive role in society  innovative aspects in youth life  young people as a resourceful category

New questions for politicians 

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What are minimum 'social guarantees' for a young person at risk with respect to education, and training, employment, housing, social support and income? How relate citizenship rights to responsibilities: What should they comprise, and in what contexts and at what age? Sub questions: What does mean participation, globalization and environmental and social harmony and cohesiveness within a fully participative democracy?

KEY FIGURES RELATING TO EU DEMOGRAPHY

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96 million young people aged 15-29 15-29 year olds 19.4 % of the EU total population almost 40 % of employed 15-24 year-olds work on a temporary contract NEETs – Not in Education, Employment or Training: more than one third of 15 to 24 year old ones approximately 26 % of unemployed young people have been unemployed for more than 12 months at risk of poverty 19 million children under 18 year olds and 20 percent of young people from 18 to 24

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for comparative and longitudinal research perspectives

Challenges and opportunities to European youth research:    

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need to evidence base knowledge for EU politics: youth research and policies are closely connected new approaches and practices need of rethinking youth opportunity to see YP as a positive role in society: youth cultural research - new youth cultures and cultural lifestyles i.e. Internet innovative aspects in youth life youth individualisation in biography - young people as a resourceful category historical and contextual processes of different forms of individualisation in young people’s way of participating in social integration processes evaluation research on political youth initiatives and youth projects for the “best practices”

THANK YOU!

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get back to one's youth one has merely repeat ones follies (Oscar Wilde)