XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 15-21, 2018)

JS-60

Youth and Violence: New Theoretical Interpretations

RC29 Deviance and Social Control (host committee)
RC34 Sociology of Youth

Language: Spanish and English

For many decades violence related to youth was seen from one of two angles: youth as victims of violence (in function of structural variables” race, class, sex etc.) and/or youth as perpetrators of violence.

In most of those parts of the world where the sociology of youth is well developed (e.g. Western Europe, North America, Australasia) levels of interpersonal physical violence among youth while higher than among the rest of the population, are today quite low. The same cannot be said for some parts of the developing world (e.g. Latin America and Southern Africa), where violence seems to have become a way of life.

How can considerations of violence as an object of study enrich youth sociology, and how can youth sociology enrich the understanding of violence? It is in the twin notions of structure and action that we believe that many valuable contributions are being made today. While violence is regarded in a negative manner by many and by the law, for some youth violence is a positive action whereby they value themselves.

This is the sharp edge – now so vital that we develop stronger understandings of physical violence in our world.  It is time to get behind those who dare to look where angels fear to tread.