How Can Sociology of Youth Research Catalyse Radical Social Change and Intergenerational Mobility?
Language: English
In this session we invite presentations on theory and methods of inquiry that do not aspire for “ceremonial adequacy”, or to demonstrate adherence to a set of predefined procedures, but which highlight the potential for real social change. Part of this involves helping to catalyse upward social mobility for previously oppressed groups. Historically, social mobility research focused on social class, but recent approaches have included an intersectional perspective that simultaneously takes race, class, caste, gender, rural-urban divides and language (especially speaking English) into account in studies of social mobility.
We encourage presentations of research methods, theory and practices that can be used as tools for radical social change and upward social mobility for previously oppressed groups of youth. We have called this approach to scholarship ‘epistepraxis’ (Cooper, Swartz, Batan & Causa, 2021), highlighting the inter-connectedness of theory, research practices and aspirations for social justice. We invite critical engagement with the concept of epistepraxis, other relevant concepts and examples of research with youth that has radical political implications.