Thompson, Ron, Russell, Lisa and Simmons, Robin (2014) Space, place and social exclusion: an ethnographic study of young people outside education and employment. Journal of Youth Studies, 17 (1). pp. 63-78. ISSN 13676261
This is the latest version of this item.
Abstract
This paper reports on the first two years of a longitudinal ethnographic study of 20 young people in northern England who have been officially classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET). Drawing on Henri Lefebvre's conceptualisation of space as perceived, conceived and lived, this paper analyses how young people comprehend, use and encounter places and spaces relating to residence, work and learning, and the role of spatialities in reproducing or interrupting aspects of social exclusion and marginality. A number of key themes emerging from the data are discussed, including the interaction of conceived, perceived and lived space in young people's struggles for subjectivity, the importance of agency and biography in shaping how different lived spaces emerge from this interaction, and the possibility of critical incidents causing shifts in lived space that intensify the difficulties young people face in finding appropriate education or employment. A particularly significant finding is that participants often feel isolated and lack control over their lives, resulting in alienation from authority and community that tends to further marginalise these young people, distancing them from meaningful contexts of education, training and work.
Available Versions of this Item
- Space, place and social exclusion: an ethnographic study of young people outside education and employment. (deposited 25 Feb 2014 10:16) [Currently Displayed]
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year
Repository Staff Only: item control page
![]() |
View Item |