Good Essay On Youth Culture

Youth Culture

Youth culture entails the norms, practices and values that youth adopt in their daily lives. Some of the common elements of youth culture include behaviors, styles, beliefs, and interests that the youth have in different parts of the world. Recently, youth have developed different cultures from different parts of the world. However, the cultures are similar although they come from different parts of the world. The subcultures developed make up the youth culture in general view.
Some of the researchers have used different theories to explain the existence of the youth culture. Janssen used the Terror management theory (TMT) to show the existence of the youth culture (Wright 2003, 45). In his theory, he states that culture originates from the desire to cope with the knowledge of mortality. The youth do this by ensuring that they adapt to the worldview and develop self-esteem. Death causes people to cling on the worldview.
In the 20th Century, scholars have given different reasons for the development of the youth culture. Some of the reasons are based on the psychological, historical or the economic aspect (Wright 2003, 21). Scholars such as James Coleman argue that age segregation is a root of the development of the youth culture. That schooling brought a separation between the children and the parents. Before the separation of parents and children, the youth freely interacted with the adults. However, schooling brought in the difference and the youth developed their culture.
Modernization is also an aspect that has led to the development of the youth culture. Presence of social media such has Facebook and Twitter has allowed faster exchange of information among the youths. Most of the youths have abandoned their culture and adopted the youth culture they view from the social media. The social media has also resulted in the faster exchange of information and ideas. The instant messaging is also a contributor to the faster exchange of information among the youth. Modernization has encouraged the universalistic norms. The youth also spend most of their time together and learn from one another (Lincoln 2012, 63).
Consequently, youth culture developed in the process of trying to define their identity. The youths wanted to know their identity and position in the society. The goal of the youth culture is to answer the question of “Who am I?” because the youth is a crucial age where the youth need to define their identity (Steinberg 2006, 14). That is to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood. The youth are supposed to learn how to take up adult responsibilities although they are under someone. Youth culture reconciles the conflicting parties.
Scholars claim that the first authentically independent youth culture developed among the college students (Epstein 2008, 51). They were away from homes and still dependent on their parents for survival. That meant that the society expected them to take up responsibilities and at the same time behave responsibly towards adults as children do. The youth also in college developed different styles of dressing and lifestyle (Epstein 2008, 51).
In conclusion, the youth culture has developed over time. Although, most people view youth culture negatively, there are youths who sensitize their fellow youth on good moral values. Recently, the youth culture was viewed as a culture that mislead most of the youth. Some were involved in drug abuse and formed gangs. However, some of the youths have come up with a culture of helping their fellow youth stop using drugs and getting involved in some of the unacceptable behaviors.

References

Epstein, J. S. 2008, Youth culture: identity in a postmodern world. Malden, Mass. Blackwell.
Lincoln, S., 2012, Youth culture and private space. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan.
Steinberg, S. R.,2006, Contemporary youth culture: an international encyclopedia 2. 2. Westport, Greenwood Press.
Wright, B. W., 2003, Comic book nation: the transformation of youth culture in America. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press.