Youth and Society

Book excerpt: In this essential third edition, Vappu Tyyskä examines the challenges faced by today's young people through a critical lens. Difficult questions related to such issues as employment, education, social pressure, identity, and crime are explored by Tyyskä as she paints a fascinating picture of modern youth in three countries: Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The author explores the negative stereotypes surrounding young people, and argues that it is time to contextualize our understanding of youth by addressing the underlying social, economic, and political issues they face. Each of the ten revised chapters begins with a list of key learning objectives and ends with discussion questions to aid in the learning process and stimulate critical thinking. This new edition incorporates updated statistics, comprehensive tables, and revised narratives in which the author explores topics pertinent to today's youth such as the influence of social media, eating disorders, and recent changes to the juvenile justice system.