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

JS-75

Youth, Gender and Belonging

RC34 Sociology of Youth (host committee)
RC32 Women in Society

Language: English

Belonging has been a frequently used concept to indicate inclusive social arrangements between self and society, but much remains to theorize and empirically demonstrate its meaning. Additionally, the characteristics of such arrangements differ across time, space and social groups. Globally, young people’s belonging is often defined by adult society along intersecting social hierarchies. This panel contributes to critical theorization of belonging and a challenge to adult-centric social arrangements through research that listens to and theorizes  from, young people’s own meanings and actions.   

In this session, we showcase papers that consider 'belonging' among youth as empirical questions.  What is belonging and how does it support youth?  How does gender shape the invitation and possibility to belong to a city, a school, or a community? 

 We invite consideration of the gendered dimensions of the relationships, spaces, and individual experiences that create the connections allowing young people to thrive.  Topics can include the creation of safety in places, coalitions between adults and youth, feminist resistance movements as belonging, mental health and girls' belonging, helping boys feel they belong in school, and creating belonging for transgender youth in space and place.