‘Basically, my only dream is to be a part of society’ – young adults’ negotiations for citizenship in the institutional system

In this article, I examine the construction of citizenship in Finnish society and the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion relating to citizenship from the perspective of young adults who are becoming independent. The context of the study is the institutional system of services and authorities that steers young adults toward an independent life, but also controls them in determining what kind of citizenship is acceptable and desirable in society. The article is based on my doctoral dissertation (Kallio Citation2023). The data consist of life course interviews (N = 36) with young adults aged 17–27, all of whom had sought support from the Youth Shelters run by the Finnish Red Cross, and of young adults' discussions in the Digital Council (N = 11). The study shows that the institutional system is a very significant environment for young adults who are forming perceptions of themselves as citizens. However, the diverse meanings that young adults give to citizenship are not sufficiently recognized within the system. On the contrary, the practices and rules of the institutional system may make it more difficult for young people to pursue the normative attributes of citizenship valued by society, and this may lead to institutionally produced vulnerability and experiences of neglect.