TY - JOUR
T1 - Societal images of youth
T2 - Representations and interpretations by youth actively engaged in their communities
AU - Messias, De Anne K.Hilfinger
AU - Jennings, Louise B.
AU - Elizabeth Fore, M.
AU - McLoughlin, Kerry
AU - Parra-Medina, Deborah
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by a grant from the American Legacy Foundation with collaboration from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, and scientific and technical assistance from the CDC. This article does not necessarily represent the views of the American Legacy Foundation or the CDC Foundation, their respective Staff or their respective Board of Directors. The authors acknowledge the participation of Sherer Royce and Terri Williams in this project, the input from anonymous reviews’ critiques of previous drafts, and appreciate suggestions offered by their colleagues, Ellen Potter and Jennifer Wilson.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2008 Taylor&Francis.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - In this paper, the authors explore representations and interpretations of images of youth that surfaced in discussions with groups of adolescents in four community youth organizations. As part of a larger multi-method study, adolescents created photo-essays on the theme ‘Youth Making a Difference in the Community.’ These projects then served as triggers for small-group discussions around the product and meaning of the exercise. In the analysis of the discussion-group transcripts, one of the striking findings was how these youth, in the processes of creating and reflecting on their photo-essays, perceived and challenged dominant societal images; reconstructed alternative images based on their personal and peer experiences; and valued visibility and recognition of youth’s contributions to the community as a way of changing the image of youth. The authors discuss implications for research and educational practices aimed at youth empowerment and recasting societal images.
AB - In this paper, the authors explore representations and interpretations of images of youth that surfaced in discussions with groups of adolescents in four community youth organizations. As part of a larger multi-method study, adolescents created photo-essays on the theme ‘Youth Making a Difference in the Community.’ These projects then served as triggers for small-group discussions around the product and meaning of the exercise. In the analysis of the discussion-group transcripts, one of the striking findings was how these youth, in the processes of creating and reflecting on their photo-essays, perceived and challenged dominant societal images; reconstructed alternative images based on their personal and peer experiences; and valued visibility and recognition of youth’s contributions to the community as a way of changing the image of youth. The authors discuss implications for research and educational practices aimed at youth empowerment and recasting societal images.
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U2 - 10.1080/09518390701217466
DO - 10.1080/09518390701217466
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84874103130
SN - 0951-8398
VL - 21
SP - 159
EP - 178
JO - International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education
JF - International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education
IS - 2
ER -