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Chapter 9 Young People’s Activism and (Digital) Repression

  • Jennifer Earl and Thomas V. Maher
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De Gruyter Handbook of Youth Activism
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Youth Activism

Abstract

This chapter examines the hurdles young people must overcome to get and stay active in protest movements and how those hurdles exist in digital and hybrid spaces, not just physical spaces. We recast the youth deficit model—a widely held but also widely contested model that denigrates youth capacity for political action—as a diffuse form of social movement repression and consider it a suppressive force in general and in digital spaces. As a set of beliefs, when internalized, the deficit model impedes opinion formation, deters or diverts action, and minimizes expectations, thereby fostering quiescence. Indeed, young people who have internalized the deficit model may minimize the scope and values of their efforts, even if they are politically active. Likewise, adults follow a deficit model playbook when they criticize the focus of young people’s protest (e.g., criticizing protest about school dress codes) or their methods (i.e., treating youth protest as less important or impactful). We also consider how the deficit model and other hurdles challenge young people’s digital movement engagement. Finally, we discuss the importance of repression by private actors, who have diverse interests in youth quiescence and may play key roles in forestalling or limiting youth engagement by disrupting access to online platforms that facilitate activism. We close with thoughts on how platforms could be improved and how researchers might facilitate young people’s engagement.

Abstract

This chapter examines the hurdles young people must overcome to get and stay active in protest movements and how those hurdles exist in digital and hybrid spaces, not just physical spaces. We recast the youth deficit model—a widely held but also widely contested model that denigrates youth capacity for political action—as a diffuse form of social movement repression and consider it a suppressive force in general and in digital spaces. As a set of beliefs, when internalized, the deficit model impedes opinion formation, deters or diverts action, and minimizes expectations, thereby fostering quiescence. Indeed, young people who have internalized the deficit model may minimize the scope and values of their efforts, even if they are politically active. Likewise, adults follow a deficit model playbook when they criticize the focus of young people’s protest (e.g., criticizing protest about school dress codes) or their methods (i.e., treating youth protest as less important or impactful). We also consider how the deficit model and other hurdles challenge young people’s digital movement engagement. Finally, we discuss the importance of repression by private actors, who have diverse interests in youth quiescence and may play key roles in forestalling or limiting youth engagement by disrupting access to online platforms that facilitate activism. We close with thoughts on how platforms could be improved and how researchers might facilitate young people’s engagement.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Contributors XI
  4. Introduction to the Handbook 1
  5. Section 1: Key Concepts and Theoretical Approaches to Youth Activism
  6. Section 1: Key Concepts and Theoretical Approaches to Youth Activism 9
  7. Chapter 1 Still Relevant? Youth as an Analytical Tool in Studies on Political Participation 15
  8. Chapter 2 Agency and Young People: Challenging Conceptual Problems and Normative Commitments 25
  9. Chapter 3 Theorizing Ageism, Adult Power and Intergenerationality in Youth Social Movements 37
  10. Chapter 4 Structural Opportunities and Constraints for the Development of a ‘Democratic Disposition’ by Youth in (Neo)Liberal Democratic Countries 49
  11. Chapter 5 Youth of Color Organizing and Affirmative Governmentality 61
  12. Chapter 6 Young Carers’ Crip Wisdom 71
  13. Chapter 7 The Irresistible Rise of Youth Activism 81
  14. Youth Activist Narrative #1: Building Solidarity in Spite of Pinkwashing 91
  15. Section 2: Temporality and Historicity of Youth Activism
  16. Section 2: Temporality and Historicity of Youth Activism 103
  17. Chapter 8 Youth Vanguardism in Repressive Regimes Across Decades of Social Movements 109
  18. Chapter 9 Young People’s Activism and (Digital) Repression 121
  19. Chapter 10 Black Youth Activism and the Reconstruction of America: Leaders, Organizations and Tactics in the Twentieth Century and Beyond 131
  20. Chapter 11 Youth Activism in Turkey’s New Authoritarianism 143
  21. Chapter 12 Temporal Diversity and Intergenerational Responsibility Across Youth-Led Social Movements 155
  22. Chapter 13 Studying Activist Temporalities in the Post-2008 Context: Hermeneutic Phenomenology of Tradition and Invention 167
  23. Youth Activist Narrative #2: The South as a Birthing Place for a Black Feminist Pan-African Future 179
  24. Section 3: The Making of Youth Activists
  25. Section 3: The Making of Youth Activists 185
  26. Chapter 14 Divergent Approaches to Political Socialization in Youth Activist Spaces: Contexts, Cultures and Organizing Infrastructures in the US and Latin America 191
  27. Chapter 15 The Youth Paradox: Young People’s Political Activism in Europe 201
  28. Chapter 16 From ‘Fridays For Future’ to Climate Summit Protests: Researching the New Subaltern Activism of Young People 213
  29. Chapter 17 Queer and Trans Youth Political Activism 229
  30. Chapter 18 Against Righteousness: Finding Activism Through Drama Pedagogies 243
  31. Chapter 19 From the Other Side of the Street: Negotiating Difference in Youth Activism 255
  32. Chapter 20 Disabled Youth Participation Within Activism and Social Movements 265
  33. Youth Activist Narrative #3: Inuk Youth Activism: Structural Inequities and Vulnerabilities 275
  34. Section 4: Contemporary Youth-Led Movements
  35. Section 4: Contemporary Youth-Led Movements 283
  36. Chapter 21 The Youth-Led Movements of the 2010s: Foundations for Radical Democratic Structures 289
  37. Chapter 22 Student Protests and Youth Action Against the Pension Reforms in France (2023) 299
  38. Chapter 23 Political Action and Everyday Life Between Separation and Continuity: Approaches to Participation Among Young Activists 311
  39. Chapter 24 The Precarity of Hope at the End of the World: Young Climate Activism in Search of a Future 323
  40. Chapter 25 Driving Change: Young Feminists in Latin America 333
  41. Chapter 26 Political Practices in African Cities: The Future for Street-Living Youth 345
  42. Chapter 27 Black Youth and Activism in North America 357
  43. Youth Activist Narrative #4: Becoming the Mentor: Sharing Power 367
  44. Section 5: Digital Platforms and Youth (Activist) Cultural Production
  45. Section 5: Digital Platforms and Youth (Activist) Cultural Production 377
  46. Chapter 28 Youth Activism in the Internet Age: Promises and Perils 383
  47. Chapter 29 Youth Political Worlds: Digital Media, Cultural Production and Activism 393
  48. Chapter 30 Everyday Cultural Expressions of Youth Politics on the Chinese Internet 403
  49. Chapter 31 Beyond Neoliberal Futures: Insights for How to Advance the Conversation About Young People’s Future with Educators, Policymakers and Youth Activists 413
  50. Chapter 32 Neuroqueer Youth’s Online Activism: Challenging Discursive Normalizations 427
  51. Chapter 33 “The Street Had Its Own Story . . . And They Say It Was Written by Children”: Graffiti and Street Art and/as Youth Activism 439
  52. Youth Activist Narrative #5: Becoming the Leaders We Needed: Lessons from the Climate Strikes in Aotearoa 451
  53. index
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111215105-013

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Contributors XI
  4. Introduction to the Handbook 1
  5. Section 1: Key Concepts and Theoretical Approaches to Youth Activism
  6. Section 1: Key Concepts and Theoretical Approaches to Youth Activism 9
  7. Chapter 1 Still Relevant? Youth as an Analytical Tool in Studies on Political Participation 15
  8. Chapter 2 Agency and Young People: Challenging Conceptual Problems and Normative Commitments 25
  9. Chapter 3 Theorizing Ageism, Adult Power and Intergenerationality in Youth Social Movements 37
  10. Chapter 4 Structural Opportunities and Constraints for the Development of a ‘Democratic Disposition’ by Youth in (Neo)Liberal Democratic Countries 49
  11. Chapter 5 Youth of Color Organizing and Affirmative Governmentality 61
  12. Chapter 6 Young Carers’ Crip Wisdom 71
  13. Chapter 7 The Irresistible Rise of Youth Activism 81
  14. Youth Activist Narrative #1: Building Solidarity in Spite of Pinkwashing 91
  15. Section 2: Temporality and Historicity of Youth Activism
  16. Section 2: Temporality and Historicity of Youth Activism 103
  17. Chapter 8 Youth Vanguardism in Repressive Regimes Across Decades of Social Movements 109
  18. Chapter 9 Young People’s Activism and (Digital) Repression 121
  19. Chapter 10 Black Youth Activism and the Reconstruction of America: Leaders, Organizations and Tactics in the Twentieth Century and Beyond 131
  20. Chapter 11 Youth Activism in Turkey’s New Authoritarianism 143
  21. Chapter 12 Temporal Diversity and Intergenerational Responsibility Across Youth-Led Social Movements 155
  22. Chapter 13 Studying Activist Temporalities in the Post-2008 Context: Hermeneutic Phenomenology of Tradition and Invention 167
  23. Youth Activist Narrative #2: The South as a Birthing Place for a Black Feminist Pan-African Future 179
  24. Section 3: The Making of Youth Activists
  25. Section 3: The Making of Youth Activists 185
  26. Chapter 14 Divergent Approaches to Political Socialization in Youth Activist Spaces: Contexts, Cultures and Organizing Infrastructures in the US and Latin America 191
  27. Chapter 15 The Youth Paradox: Young People’s Political Activism in Europe 201
  28. Chapter 16 From ‘Fridays For Future’ to Climate Summit Protests: Researching the New Subaltern Activism of Young People 213
  29. Chapter 17 Queer and Trans Youth Political Activism 229
  30. Chapter 18 Against Righteousness: Finding Activism Through Drama Pedagogies 243
  31. Chapter 19 From the Other Side of the Street: Negotiating Difference in Youth Activism 255
  32. Chapter 20 Disabled Youth Participation Within Activism and Social Movements 265
  33. Youth Activist Narrative #3: Inuk Youth Activism: Structural Inequities and Vulnerabilities 275
  34. Section 4: Contemporary Youth-Led Movements
  35. Section 4: Contemporary Youth-Led Movements 283
  36. Chapter 21 The Youth-Led Movements of the 2010s: Foundations for Radical Democratic Structures 289
  37. Chapter 22 Student Protests and Youth Action Against the Pension Reforms in France (2023) 299
  38. Chapter 23 Political Action and Everyday Life Between Separation and Continuity: Approaches to Participation Among Young Activists 311
  39. Chapter 24 The Precarity of Hope at the End of the World: Young Climate Activism in Search of a Future 323
  40. Chapter 25 Driving Change: Young Feminists in Latin America 333
  41. Chapter 26 Political Practices in African Cities: The Future for Street-Living Youth 345
  42. Chapter 27 Black Youth and Activism in North America 357
  43. Youth Activist Narrative #4: Becoming the Mentor: Sharing Power 367
  44. Section 5: Digital Platforms and Youth (Activist) Cultural Production
  45. Section 5: Digital Platforms and Youth (Activist) Cultural Production 377
  46. Chapter 28 Youth Activism in the Internet Age: Promises and Perils 383
  47. Chapter 29 Youth Political Worlds: Digital Media, Cultural Production and Activism 393
  48. Chapter 30 Everyday Cultural Expressions of Youth Politics on the Chinese Internet 403
  49. Chapter 31 Beyond Neoliberal Futures: Insights for How to Advance the Conversation About Young People’s Future with Educators, Policymakers and Youth Activists 413
  50. Chapter 32 Neuroqueer Youth’s Online Activism: Challenging Discursive Normalizations 427
  51. Chapter 33 “The Street Had Its Own Story . . . And They Say It Was Written by Children”: Graffiti and Street Art and/as Youth Activism 439
  52. Youth Activist Narrative #5: Becoming the Leaders We Needed: Lessons from the Climate Strikes in Aotearoa 451
  53. index
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