Stereotypes Of Youth Subculture

1402 Words3 Pages

Youth subcultures are often associated with their own styles of speaking, having their own register that is only associated with such. Their stereotypical identity has been built around their register, yet their register has become part of their own youth internalized identity. It has become instrumental to the spreading of the stereotype of youth subculture. Rather, youth subcultures often take on slang registers but it does not become a part of such. Seen as a form of rebellion to go against the structures of language that is viewed as part of a hierarchal stance. To speak ‘proper’, a sense of formality has been built to be the appropriate form of language to be spoken between those seen as youth and those seen as authority. Going against …show more content…

Often, slang developed in one’s youth register could continue and still be a part of their adulthood communication. That being stated, language has been fundamentally shaped in terms of who is seen in seniority and those below. Categorizing languages and stating that the youth do not know how to properly address one another is a form of a hierarchal push to view people as those above and those below. We have even categorized youth from other age groups, and have adopted registers related to such, “… ‘youth’ are necessarily embedded in more encompassing systems of age categories that are themselves connected in myriad ways to other dimensions of local culture.” (Suslak 203). Interactions with one’s peer appears to be more important today than with one’s parents. Suslak argues that this separation was not created by the youth, but by those who are in authority to youths. Making youths believe that they are beneath others has caused them to create multiple subcultures that they identify themselves in. These groups can be based on celebrities they like, artistic views, political views. Yet within these different subcultures, they all contain their own form of language to communicate with one another that is seen as immature, undereducated, and inappropriate. Forcing them to feel different and misunderstood, which then continues this cycle …show more content…

Being able to have something of their own, such as language, is a part of developing their identity. Communication is vital for them to have with others in their community, whether it be face to face or online through social media. In schools, sports, social lives, youth has and will always use language as a form of identity expression. It is separate from those who view youth as undereducated, immature, and portraying inappropriate behavior. Interaction between youth is treated as play, they see this as something without consequence. By placing youths into a category all on their own, this hierarchal system that they must build themselves up on has given youth subcultures a feeling of inferiority. In doing so, youth often look towards outlets to relieve the standards that are placed upon them. One major factor, as discussed, is language and their use of it to convey thoughts and feelings between one another that may not be understood by others. Of course, this can lead to adults, leadership, seniority figures to believe that this destruction of language is ‘just something kids do’, but in facts it is a way for youth to be able to express themselves without the feeling of inferiority. They are freeing themselves through the use of slang, through their register, to be able to break the molds placed upon them. They know that adults cannot understand what they are saying, using terms such

Open Document