Description

Schooling gender: Ethical dilemmas in employing critical youth studies

SARAH PRIOR

Criminology and Criminal Justice Department, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA

Abstract

Like adults, young people want their voices to be heard. While most adults have spaces wherein they can express themselves (be that through affiliation with different group membership, voting in elections, or freely choosing their peer cohorts), most youth do not have such spaces. Youth are often limited by outside restraints – legal, social, familial – that constrict their ability to freely express themselves, or to have spaces to engage in conversations about issues such as gender and sexuality. Because youth often lack a voice in research, conducting research with, rather than on youth is an integral aspect of critical youth studies. Being able to design and carry out research that is youth-centered is not only necessary, but also critical in creating research projects that promote voice and agency for these young people. This article examines many of the hurdles faced when seeking to conduct youth-centered research. I unpack my experiences within the research project and advocate that youth serve as knowledge agents about their own lives.

Keywords: gender, critical youth studies, ethics, methodology