Defining Youth - B672

- All youth go through hormonal changes at puberty- facial hair, genitals developing etc. 

-Are physically different form adults i.e. body shape etc. 

- Young people experiance changes in their attitudes and behaviour 

- Can be irritiable and unsure of identities. 

- The Law: rights of youth is different depending on the society- e.g. 17 to drive in England but 16 in some American States

- Social Norms: Traditions vary according to society e.g. In England the average for a female to marry is 27 BUT  Nigeria is just over 17

- Time: Youth in th epast used to work and bring home a wage- now youth are dependent for longer because of compulsory schooling etc

- Emotional/behavioural norms: it is believed that all youth life is confusing/emotional BUT some sociologists like Mead(1927) argue that Samoan youth did not have this period of turmoil 

Some people describe youth as a biological stage, others as a social construction-- this is CALLED SOCIAL OF YOUTH 

Its a stage that CHANGES according to social factors :

- Time

- Place 

- Gender 

- Culture 

- Ethinicity

- Social Class background