Agency of Young People in Structurally Weak Regions and the Influence of Family
This presentation will focus on young people in "structurally weak regions", primarily addressing the restrictions placed on young people's options for action. Young adults remain if they perceive themselves as having the power to act and thus advance as local actors (van Breda et al., 2023). In terms of collective agency theories, this can only be established relationally with the actors and conditions in a processual manner (Raithelhuber, 2018).
As an intergenerational educational space, family is one of the most influential factors, serving as a place of orientation and support (Busse, 2017). From a transgenerational perspective in which the (grand)parents' generations impact subsequent generations, contextual conditions affecting young people’s options for action become visible (Hille et al., 2022). Focusing on educational practices in their entanglement with family and youth stay negotiations, economic opportunities, and socio-cultural images of "structurally weak regions" seems worthwhile, as the resulting decisions have consequences for the individual—and in summation of individual choices, for the region. In this context, young adults carry a latent scope for agency—an inherent capacity to influence and shape their trajectories. The intricacies of this intergenerational and regional interplay contribute to individuals' diverse and evolving educational experiences, laying the foundation for their agency in navigating the complexities of adulthood.
Exploring the reconstruction of educational practices and regional understanding within families unveils the dynamic interaction between familial influences and broader regional perspectives (Hille & Schulze, 2023). The presentation should discuss the concept of 'structurally weak regions', take an intergenerational perspective on space and its effects on young people's agency, and theoretically discuss these effects.