This article focuses on how consumerism, as a social ideology, and consumption, as an individual activity, are used by adolescents to mark and mask differences in the process of identity construction. Data are drawn from an ethnographic study of urban youth. The act of consuming for the adolescents in this study forms an integral part of their…

The article draws on research carried out with groups of young people living in one of the highest crime areas in the United Kingdom, Urbanfields, as they made videos reflecting aspects of their lives. One of the main aims of the research was to add an alternative voice to existing work on risk and resilience by focusing on the social processes…

Using an interpretivist approach, this article explores young African American men's (n = 20) reflections on coming of age and the meanings of father loss. Based on focus groups, the authors found that it was through autobiographical narratives of loss, survival, and redemption that young men positioned themselves ideologically and constructed the…

This study examines the cultural and contextual factors that influence the decisions of underrepresented urban youth, who identify themselves as Black/African American, Latino, Arab, or Chaldean, to participate in youth programs. Although youth programs are increasingly recognized for their positive influences, little is known about the factors…

The development and validation of a measure of adolescent future expectations associated with work, education, family, health, and church/community participation is presented. The 25-item measure was administered to a sample of 389 7th- to 12th-grade urban poor and working-class Chilean students. Results of an exploratory principal axis factor…

Explores the interpretation of experiences and world views of young people in deprived inner-city neighborhoods. Findings from six focus groups made up of 44 adolescents suggest the combination of mainstream and ghetto-specific norms in the interpretations these young people give to their environment and the ways in which experiences shape their…

Examined the role that various background, labor market, and street lifestyle factors play in the drug and alcohol use of 200 street youths. Results indicate that street youths have histories that exert a strong influence over their behavior, especially histories of parental drug and alcohol use. Contains 68 references. (SLD)

Analyzes data from 1,755 high school students in Hong Kong concerning participation in youth center activities. Findings support the usefulness of the sequential specificity model and indicate that knowledge of and attitude toward youth center services affect the participation intention of participants more than those of nonparticipants. (SLD)

Examined the relationship between acculturation and delinquency in 315 adolescents and youth of Chinese descent in Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada). Results show that adherence to Chinese culture reduces the likelihood of delinquency, an effect not explained by Chinese cultural norms and traditions and one that is not congruent with opportunity and…

Describes two critical dimensions of work-based learning (WBL), firm-based versus school-based, and "learn-and-stay" versus "learn-and-go." Recommendations are offered for the design of new WBL in the light of empirical findings on the employment patterns of young people as they grow older. (SLD)

Qualitative research with 127 low-income young men and women, aged 14 to 30, in Rio de Janeiro found rigid gender roles with males displaying widespread "machista" attitudes (an exaggerated deep structure of masculinity) and acceptance of violence against women that was greater in low-income urban areas. Implications for working with…

Studied the similarity of behaviors among group members and the effects of a risk-reduction intervention aimed at AIDS/HIV prevention with 76 groups of African-American urban adolescents (n=382 youth) studied over 18 months. Data support the usefulness of HIV prevention through groups of friends. (SLD)

Explores the ways in which producers of contemporary urban graffiti resist the increasing segregation and control of urban environments, and shows how graffiti participants undermine efforts at control. Data come from four years of field work in Denver (Colorado) and research in other cities. (SLD)

Investigated factors associated with gang involvement among rural and urban adolescents using data from a sample of 1,183 Nevada students in grades 7 through 12. There was no significant difference in gang membership or pressure to join gangs between the rural and urban samples, but there were differences on other gang and violence indicators.…

Presents a conceptual framework from Cleveland's (Ohio) George Gund Foundation youth violence prevention initiative to assist planners and funders effectively and creatively address youth violence in their communities. It presents an overview of current approaches to youth violence and treatment and a means for identifying, categorizing, and…