Abstract Pacific young people are gaining increasing visibility on the international stage, particularly through global climate activism. Yet in their Pacific homelands they often experience gatekeeping that prevents them from taking on leadership roles or having a voice as active citizens. This gatekeeping occurs primarily through the age and gender hierarchies that remain strong within Pacific families, communities, churches, civil society organisations and at the level of government. For young people who have spent time living overseas there is also gatekeeping based on ideas of authenticity and those who are perceived to lack cultural knowledge often encounter resistance if they attempt to have a voice in relation to social issues. Research in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu showed that young people who seek to be civically engaged must balance ideas of culture and tradition with their desire for social change. Young people asserted the need for more intergeneration dialogue and mentoring of youth, to build their capacity for leadership. They are also bypassing gatekeeping by establishing their own youth organisations within their home countries and regionally, working together on key issues such as climate change, gender equality, and social justice.
Craney et al. (Mon,) studied this question.