ABSTRACT
This chapter is an introduction to the sociology of youth. It explores youth from two angles. The first is as a social construction—a historically specific concept with material consequences for the way that society is organised. The second is as a biographical experience and form of identity—a period in a person’s life that is shaped by social structures and institutions, and that includes unique experiences and identities. Youth offers a powerful vantage point for understanding society. The concept of youth reflects the aspirations, anxieties, and power relations of our society, and young people’s experiences can show us how society and identity may change in the future.
