Youth: Universal Stage of Life or Social Construct?

Youth: Universal Stage of Life or Social Construct?
There is much debate in the world about the definition of youth. Some groups think of youth as a universal stage of life, while others think it is merely a social construct which alters regionally depending on social conditions. While leaving the term undefined may allow for some freedoms for people, being able to participate in activities that may otherwise be conventionally restricted to a specific age group (older people going to pop concerts and younger people “youth” going to bingo), defining specific parameters can also be beneficial in ensuring the safety and well-being of people who can be left vulnerable by the grey area in laws. Without a definition for the group encompassing youth, it can make law making and policy forming problematic and ultimately end up leaving certain groups of people in society vulnerable and unprotected. But before a definition can be created, youth must be classified as a universal stage of life or a social construct.
There is a stronger inclination towards thinking that, to a large extent, the concept of youth is a social construct that is defined differently in each country, in different regions and cultures. This variation is caused by differing social, political, economic and religious conditions in each place. The definition of ‘youth’ even varies from generation to generation as the expectations for each group change due to circumstances such as wars, famines, economic revival. The definition largely depends on where a person is and what they have constructed “youth” to mean. It is defined as a social construct so frequently because people give it parameters, as they do adulthood. People decide who is eligible to be a part of that categor...

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