Youth Cultures and Contexts

This chapter examines the most relevant youth contexts in the United States at this socio-historical point in time. To do so with any accuracy requires drawing on multiple fields of inquiry—youth contexts are not solely the study of developmental scientists. Thus, this chapter reviews prominent theories of cultural theorists, sociologists, educational researchers, and political scientists to establish a depiction of the contemporary American youth context. The aim is a macro-level view of the policies and practices influencing the individual youth micro-level, including the reader’s frame of reference. A brief examination of current cultural narratives about young people can inform analysis about limiting parameters: youth who lead social change are often portrayed as either “cute” or “dangerous,” with both views disparaging their efforts and undermining their credible power.