5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

Latin America and the Caribbean is the most unequal region in the world. This inequality has been even more clearly evident in the post-pandemic context, which involved diverse challenge for different population groups. Inequality in the region encompasses different dimensions, which are usually correlated, including, among others, income, education, land ownership and job opportunities. Although the first decade of the 21st century was characterized by a notable reduction in income inequality in the region, the following years marked a significant slowdown and even reversal of this trend in some countries. The crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated this situation.

In the post-pandemic context, different Latin American countries have experienced important political changes, of diverse ideological nature. In some cases, young people have strongly contributed to these transformations. Moreover, the region has a long tradition of youth activism. In this context, the session intends to address the following questions: What changes have occurred in policies aimed at reducing youth inequalities in the region in the post-pandemic context? What manifestations of youth activism and resistance have developed? What are the senses of justice invoked? What impacts have these phenomena had on territorial, ethnic, class and gender inequalities among young people in the region?

This session will receive presentations that discuss the results of quantitative and qualitative research on youth policies and youth mobilization processes in Latin America, and on their effects on youth inequalities, from an intersectional point of view.