Young people, class and place

This collection focuses on issues of class and place in respect of young people’s lives. contributions derive, at least in part, from a one-day British Sociological Youth Study Group seminar that was hosted by the Youth Research at the University of Teesside in September 2008. What is special or important about the social scientific study of ? One answer is that the youth phase provides a privileged vantage point from to observe broader processes of social change and social continuity (Furlong Cartmel 2007, MacDonald and Shildrick 2009). If new cultural trends emerge or social developments happen, it is feasible that they will be seen here first most obviously, among the coming, new generation of young adults. If ‘choice ’ replace ‘normal’ ones, if family or household forms become less , if well-known patterns of gender or class inequality loosen or become less , it is likely that these changes will be observed first in youth; changes made young people as they make transitions to adult life.