Long and Winding Road : Adolescents and Youth in Canada Today

This book takes a critical and sympathetic look at the problems and challenges faced by Canadian adolescents and youth at the turn of the millennium. Tyyska's comprehensive synthesis of Canadian research on adolescents and youth argues convincingly that the attack on young people as a semi-literate group prone to destructive or anti-social acts is not supported by sociological data. The negative image of youth derives from the power relations to which they are subject and against which they struggle. Dr Tyyska introduces us to the most important findings of a generation of research in the field, including an examination of the significance of gender, race and ethnicity. Canadian Scholars Press 1551301946 1 Contents 8 List of Tables and Figures 12 Preface 14 CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION 18 What is Wrong with Young People Today? 19 Defining Adolescence and Youth Today 22 Theories and Ideologies of Youth 25 Conservative Theories: Conformity 26 Critical Theories: Age and Stratification 29 Race, Ethnicity, and Immigrant Status 32 A Short History of Native Youth 33 A Short History of Black Youth 35 Youth in the White Mainstream 39 Idleness and Morality 42 The Prolongation of Adolescence and Youth 43 Conclusions 45 CHAPTER 2 - EDUCATION 48 Rising Levels of Education 48 Secondary Schools 49 Dropping Out 50 Colleges and Universities 52 Student Loans 54 Inequality in Education 55 Social Class 56 Gender 58 Gender and Educational Aspirations and Expectations 61 Gender Tracking 63 Sexual Harassment 64 Ethnic and Race Minorities and Education 66 Institutionalized Racism in Education 70 Conclusions 72 CHAPTER 3 - WORK 76 From the Frying Pan into the Fire: Youth Labour Markets 76 Youth Employment and Unemployment 77 Cohort Effects and Economic Cycles 78 Where are the Jobs? 80 The Benefits of Education vs. Educational Inflation and Credentialism 82 Life-Long Learning? 85 Gender and Employment Experiences 87 Race, Ethnicity, and Employment Experiences 89 Earnings: Are Youth too Greedy? 90 Employment Policy 93 Youth and Unions 94 The Informal Work Sector: Toronto's Squeegee Kids 95 Conclusions 98 CHAPTER 4 - FAMILY AND INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS 102 Power in Families 102 Family Structure 103 Family Poverty 104 Remarriage 106 Parenting and Socialization 107 Gender Socialization 111 Racial Socialization 113 Impact of Children on Parents 113 Intergenerational Power 115 Developmental Stake and Generation Gap 115 Adolescent-Parent Relations in Immigrant Families 118 Intergenerational Cultural Retention 120 Leaving Home 121 The Empty Nest 122 The Crowded Nest 123 Family Violence and Castaway Kids 126 Youth in Care and Street Youth 131 Youth and Mental Health 137 Conclusions 139 CHAPTER 5 - INTIMATE AND SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS 142 Relationship Patterns 142 Living Single 143 Courtship and Dating 144 Sexual Orientation 147 Sexual Behaviour 150 Safe Sex and Sexually Transmitted Diseases 154 Teenage Pregnancies 156 Marriage and Common-Law Relationships 161 Domestic Division of Labour 165 Relationship Violence 166 Conclusions 170 CHAPTER 6 - PEERS, IDENTITY, CULTURE, AND POLITICS 174 Youth Among Themselves 174 Friendships, Peer Groups, and Youth Culture 175 Diversity and Youth Culture 176 Youth and Institutions: Participatory Youth Culture 180 Youth in Politics and Social Movements 181 Parental Influence 187 Home-Based Youth Culture: The Media Invasion 188 Hooked onto the Screen 188 Magazines 190 Music 192 Marketing and Consumerism 193 Street-Based Youth Culture: Partying 195 Raves 197 The Use of Legal and Illegal Drugs 201 Illegal Drugs 201 Legal Drugs: Alcohol and Tobacco 203 Conclusions 206 CHAPTER 7 - CRIME AND DELINQUENCY 210 Troublemakers? 210 Youth as Victims of Violence 213 Youth as Perpetrators of Violence and Crime 215 Gender and Youth Crime 220 Race, Ethnicity, and Youth Crime 222 Why Do Youth Engage in Criminal Behaviour? 224 Peers, Gangs, and Delinquent Subcultures 226 Skinheads and Hate Groups 228 Moral Panics, the Police, and Juvenile Law 230 Conclusions 235 CHAPTER 8 - CONCLUSIONS 238 So You Say We Need a Revolution? 238 Family Life 240 Education and Employment 241 Young People's Relationships 243 Criminalizing Youth 244 What is the Real Problem and What Can be Done About it? 246 An Integrated Life-Course Approach to Policies Related to Youth 247 Sources 250 ISBN-13:,9781551301945 Introduction -- Education -- Work -- Family And Intergenerational Relationships -- Intimate And Sexual Relationships -- Peers, Identity, Culture, And Politics -- Crime And Delinquency -- Conclusions. Vappu Tyyskä. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-261).