Young People as Real Citizens: Towards an Inclusionary Understanding of Citizenship

Based on a major qualitative study, this article examines young people's status as citizens. It argues that UK social policy assumes that young people lack citizenship—and so need interventions to develop their citizenship—but that this assumption is not based on concepts of citizenship, but on how youth is (mis)perceived. The research found that the young people prescribed to a number of different interpretations of citizenship, often simultaneously. It found that certain narrow conceptions—such as the employment-oriented model—can serve to exclude young people. Other models—such as that relating to socially constructive participation—better highlight young people's citizenship. The paper concludes by calling for a more conceptually comprehensive and inclusive view of citizenship, so that young people's status as citizens can be better appreciated.