The Transition of Youth into Adulthood.

763 Words2 Pages

Research has suggested that youth of today are taking longer to complete the transition into adulthood. Twenty-five years ago youth had more of a traditional model of transition, whereas today, the transition seems somewhat fractured. Changes in education and the benefit system may be responsible for the altered state of transition in current youth, (Keep, 2011) which is an assumption that will be investigated further. Therefore, this essay will explore youth transition and will look at how the restructuring of polices and legislations have affected youths transition in to adulthood. Additionally there will be some insight into whether these changes are responsible for the deterioration of the traditional transition model. Furthermore the manner in which political ideologies and perspectives have altered factors such as education, employment, housing and benefits will be examined. Once a full explanation has been provided; the fundamental question that needs to be answered is; are the teenagers of today embattled or empowered?
“Definitions of ‘youth’ in Western societies usually refer to the life stage between childhood and adulthood, the transitional period between being dependant and becoming independent” (Kehily, 2007). The age of this transition can be best defined by the House of Commons as starting at 16 and ending at 24 years old (2013). This transition from youth to adulthood has altered considerably in recent years; the traditional norms and values that youth once followed are no longer respected or easily attained. Current youth have very different life styles and expectations, consequently; adolescents are taking longer to complete the transition into adulthood. Twenty-five years ago the traditional norms we...

... middle of paper ...

...qualifications. The work placements are run on a voluntary basis and travel and childcare costs are covered. These polices along with others have been put in place by the Youth Contract which was drawn up by The House of Commons; in theory it will ensure youth have access to all available resources to help them gain employment or a place in education (Mizra-Davies, 2103).

Works Cited

http://www.skope.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/WP108.pdf used this on the 27/11/13 http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/youth-divide-diverging-paths-adulthood viewed 22/11/13
"Understanding Youth: Perspectives, Identities & Practices: Perspectives, Identities and Practices (Published in association with The Open University)"(Paperback)by Mary Jane Kehily page 3 sage publications, London
James Mirza-Davies, Economic Policy and Statistics, Youth Contract, The House of Commons 2013

Show More
Related

  • An Analysis Of Miguel Ruiz's Four Agreements

    1968 Words  | 4 Pages

    The youth work relationship is generally more informal than those that young people have with other adults. Unlike in many other relationships young people encounter, youth workers provide opportunities for them to exercise a high level of power and control. This accountability and openness enables young people to trust the workers to be honest and reliable. Just as Ruiz (2012) extolls authenticity, the success of youth work depends on the genuine openness and transparency of the youth worker (Henry et al.

    Read More

  • Youth Justice Case Study

    1836 Words  | 4 Pages

    This essay will introduce the youth justice system, as well as organisations which oversee its processes. Next, it will describe the context of the criminal justice system for young people, with reference made to legislation and its historical impact. In this essay the writer will discuss the principles of the youth justice system, arguing that one principle has precedence over the others. In the essay, there will be arguments for and against principles. There will be support of academics throughout and the use of a case study, to emphasise how the principle should be the precedence of the youth justice system.

    Read More

  • Theories Of Lifespan Development And Jean Piaget's Theory Of Development

    1777 Words  | 4 Pages

    This period is marked by physical, social, moral and emotional development (Davies, Hartdegen, Haxell, Le Geyt & Mercier, 2012). It is a time when the adolescent’s sense of self or identity is becoming much more clear and they are beginning to understand their role in society, starting to question the morals of others and contemplating their own moral and ethical beliefs (Davies et al., 2012). During this time Erik Erikson believed that adolescents are faced with the psychosocial stage of identity versus role confusion (Berk, 2008). Adolescents explore their values and role in society, overcoming this conflict to better understand their own identity, however if they do not fully overcome this conflict, Erikson believed that the adolescent would be confused about their values and future adult roles (Berk, 2008). This conflict was clearly demonstrated in my own development during the late teenage years when I experienced both the results of failing to overcome and then overcoming Erikson’s fifth psychosocial stage. At age eighteen I finished secondary school and began my tertiary studies, I had been accepted into the degree I had wanted to study since middle childhood, however I quickly learnt that I was enjoying neither my studies nor my experience of life in halls of residence. I discontinued my studies after only

    Read More

  • Gavin Mcines 'Spare The Job, Wreck The Child'

    494 Words  | 1 Pages

    SUBJECT: In an article, for Taki’s Magazine Gavin McInnes holds nothing back, as he offers his harsh critique on what is wrong with youth today.

    Read More

  • Emerging Adulthood: The Period Of Development

    1578 Words  | 4 Pages

    But is emerging adulthood a period that every young person experiences through their life, in every culture and exactly the same ages or are there any restrictions for young people to experience this emerging phase. Marriage was the significance that a person entered adulthood, it usually happened between the ages of 16-18 for females and 18-20 for males. This small window before marriage only allows for a period of adolescences but no emerging adulthood. So this means that emerging adulthood is not a universal phase but one that only is experienced by those people that delay taking any adult like responsibilities until past their teens. Because some countries are extremely industrialized the requirement of people to have a higher education is reinforced, many emerging adults remain in school until their early or mid twenties to obtain a gainful position. This allows them to explore relationships and different jobs before they consider taking on the responsibility to marry and procreate and support a child financially. Although marriage is mostly calculated by some, there are cultures such as the Mormon Church that have a short emerging period. Due to cultural beliefs, there is no premarital sex and usually aim to have large families, so the pressure is on the young people to wed early and procreate because this is what is expected of them from both their families; it’s the

    Read More

  • Myth of the Teen Brain: An Article Review

    1235 Words  | 3 Pages

    In other industrialized nations, teenage turmoil was a fraction of that seen in the U.S. The author proposed that turmoil was the result of infantilizing- a phenomenon largely attributed to American culture. When treated like adults, teens are capable of rising to the...

    Read More

  • Alan Greenblatt What Is The Age Of Adulthood

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is ironic that how some children are able to present themselves more mature than adults. The youth of the generation is becoming more mature and are developing adult skills faster than ever. People are beginning to wonder about the age of adulthood and how it should be determined. This controversy beleaguers around privileges such as drinking, driving, and voting. According to the article What is the Age of Responsibility by Alan Greenblatt, society determines that a person is an adult through customary rites, legal rights, and one’s responsibilities. However, I believe that the best way to adulthood is shown through one’s obligation for their priorities and work.

    Read More

  • X: the Influenced and Influential Generation

    1777 Words  | 4 Pages

    Adolescence that exists in "Generation X" varies from that which existed during the baby boomers years. Children grow up so quickly nowadays, parents sigh. Now as always, most adolescents are looked down upon by adults and people of authority. Most teenagers are uncontrollable and they are a problem to society. The teenage years are supposed to be the years of discovery, responsibility, and maturing. The majority of ...

    Read More

  • What Role Do Youth Play In Political Parties

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    A third entry defines ‘the youth’ as “young people considered as a group”. Those definitions do not shed much light on the concept, therefore it seems more efficient to turn to a sociological definition. Andy Furlong (2012: 2) says that “youth is a socially constructed intermediary phase […] of semi-dependence that falls between the full dependency that characterises childhood and the independence of adulthood”. The definition of A. Furlong suggests that ‘youth’ is a concept which is not universal as it differs markedly depending on time and societies. Furthermore, since the concept of youth has no established age boundaries it becomes difficult to tell the difference between other similar terms such as ‘adolescence’–more related to physiological changes–and ‘teenagers’–a person aged between 13 and 19 years (Evans, 2008: 1663).

    Read More

  • Crime And Determinism Essay

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kent, Adam. 2009. “Vulnerable Youth and the Transition to Adulthood.” Table 1. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of Human Services Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC. http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/09/vulnerableyouth/3/index.pdf.

    Read More

  • Arnett's Theory Of Emerging Adulthood

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    Arnett may not be inaccurate as he explains the differences in young adults today as previous generations based on the timing roles take place, nonetheless suggesting it as a novel universal stage causes concern globally. As mentioned in Cote’s 2014, Dangerous Myth of Emerged Adulthood, Arnett’s theory cannot be correct for all 18-29 year olds, nor did Arnett explore other countries across different demographics or non-college students, (L. Drew, Emerging Adulthood lecture, August 26th, 2015). Young adults appear to bounce around the workforce, however it could be because young adults are accepting employment they are not favorable of to aid them through college where at that point they can inevitably find the career they intend on keeping, opposed to Arnett’s reasoning for this to be “identity explorations,” (Cote, 2014, pp. 184). Arnett’s theory may be plausible for a selection of people in industrialized societies where their behavior can be seen as prolonging their “adulthood”. For example, young adults not feeling like an adult and who search for self-exploration, on the other hand perhaps he should consider a innovative term other than a developmental stage in life universally, (Arnett, 2000, pp. 479).

    Read More

  • Assess The Impact Of Individualisation On Youth

    1579 Words  | 4 Pages

    In our modern and current society today, typically in the Western cultures, individualisation and detraditionalisation has had many impact and influences on the nature of teenagers, in the sense of them transitioning from youth to adulthood. The term ‘individualisation’ refers to a trend towards the primacy of individual choice, freedom, and self responsibility; meaning that ‘each young person is under pressure to consciously tailor make their own life trajectory towards successful adult citizenship' (Furlong & Cartmel 1997; Kelly 2006). While on the other hand, the term ‘detrationalisation’ referring to the withering away of old forms of collective social collectivity and associated patterns of behaviour embedded over generations; meaning

    Read More

  • Emerging Adulthood Essay

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    Emerging adults are always in the search of their own identity while experimenting with their life, love life and career path. Constant changes in emerging adult’s life are common. From changing residential place to love life, work and education, instability often presents during emerging adulthood (Santrock, 2013). In addition, emerging adults tend to place focus on themselves where they have no commitment and responsibilities toward others. This provides them a great chance to exercise their own will and to execute their plans for the future. During emerging adulthood, many feel like as if they do not belong to either adolescents or adult. The transition ends only when they have distinct marks of an adult. According to Arnett (as cited in Santrock, 2014), “emerging adulthood is the age of possibilities” (p. 296). The age of possibilities is when an individual has the opportunity to turn things around in life, especially when they are from a poor family

    Read More

  • Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Youth Entrepreneurship

    2652 Words  | 6 Pages

    Generating decent work for young people: An Issues Paper prepared for the Secretary-General’s Youth Employment Network. (2002). Retrieved from ILO website: http://bit.ly/19ibh4C

    Read More

  • Exploring the Multifaceted Practice of Youth Work

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    Youth work is a polyvalent and multifaceted practice. It takes place in a wide range of settings, it varies from unstructured activities to fairly structured programs, it reaches a large diversity of young people, touches a lot of different themes and is on the interface with many other disciplines and practices (Coussée, 2009). It is happening across countries and communities, in all its forms, in different settings and contexts and there is no doubt that any attempt to study the history of youth work always presents a vexing challenge that cannot be accurately described.

    Read More

More about The Transition of Youth into Adulthood.

Open Document