WHO ARE YOUTH? WHAT IS CHILDHOOD?

The podcast "Are children a marginalized group?"

explores how young people are often perceived as incapable of making significant decisions, leading to their opinions on matters like education and personal freedoms are ignored. This view stems from the belief that children, lacking the life experience of adults, are not capable of making informed choices. Legal and cultural norms typically give children fewer rights and less power, reinforcing this idea. For example, the podcast mentions that "kids experience structural and personal harm without any power to change it," and that they are "often left out of decisions about their own futures." This stereotype becomes even more complex for children from marginalized backgrounds, who often face additional barriers when it comes to having their voices heard. The podcast shows how children often feel dismissed by adults, saying things like, “Sometimes I feel like some adults will talk to me like they're being nice enough to ask my opinion, but in the end, they're not really going to think about what I'm saying just because I'm, like, a kid.” This reflects a broader cultural tendency to value adult opinions more, based on the belief that adults are more knowledgeable. As a result, children’s views are frequently overlooked.

The article "Understanding Adultism" highlights the belief that young people are immature and incapable of understanding complex issues or making important decisions. "The opinions of most young people are not valued; they are punished at the will or whim of adults; their emotions are considered ‘immature.’" This stereotype overlooks their perspectives and abilities, reinforcing a cycle where their thoughts and opinions are disregarded. For young people of color or those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, this disregard can be even more prominent, further silencing their voices. Gender stereotypes also contribute, as different genders may face differing expectations about emotional maturity, which influences how their opinions are perceived and treated. This belief prevents young people from showing their true capabilities and contributions. They deserve to be listened to and respected not just as future leaders, but as capable individuals today.

The article "Denaturalizing Adolescence: The Politics of Contemporary Representations" highlights "The second confident characteristics of adolescents declares that they are controlled by hormones and, therefore, dangerously out of control." The stereotype that adolescents are out of control because of hormones comes from the idea that their behavior is mostly driven by hormonal changes, ignoring other factors like social influences, mental health, and personal differences. Focusing on the "hormonal teenager" causes normal adolescent behavior to be seen as problematic. Adolescents of color often face unfair stereotypes that can affect how they are perceived and treated. For example, racial biases might lead to these young people being labeled as more rebellious or troublesome simply because of their race. This can lead to their behavior being misunderstood or judged unfairly. Additionally, gender plays a role in these stereotypes. Females are sometimes seen as overly emotional or dramatic, which reinforces negative gender norms that consider emotional expression in females problematic. 

  Memory - During undergrad when I was a member of Harambee, the Black Student Union on campus I was often left out of conversations and viewed differently because of my appearance. I was judged off appearance rather than my character and what I could contribute to the organization. It wasn’t just about being left out of discussions or social interactions; it extended to how my ideas and perspectives were received. It affected my confidence, my sense of belonging and made me feel less than.