Chapter One. Introduction: The Need to Investigate the Civic Experiences of American Young People
1.1 Motivation for Research
1.2 Context of the Study that Informed this Book
1.2.1 Perceived Disengagement of Young People
1.2.2 New Forms of Engagement with Technology
1.2.3 Research Aims
1.2.4 Methodology Overview
1.2.5 Contributions
1.3 Terminology
1.4 Organization of the Book
Chapter Two. Where Technology, Youth, and Civics Meet: A Springboard for Understanding Civic Identity
2.1 Overview
2.2 Contemporary Society: An Era Marked by Technology
2.2.1 The Internet and Social Media: An Overview
2.2.2 Civic Applications of Technology
2.3 Conceptualizations of Young People
2.3.3 Presentations of the Self in Contemporary Society: The Intersection of the Psychological and Sociological Theories of Identity
2.4 Civic Studies: Developing an Understanding of Civic Identity
2.4.1 Citizenship
2.4.2 Civic Engagement of Young People
2.5 The Significance of Civic Education for Civic Engagement
2.6 Summary
Chapter Three. Findings: Presentations of the Adolescent Self in Contemporary Society
3.1 Connection to Others
3.2 Private vs. Public Self
3.3 Self- Expression
3.3.1 The Case of Martin
3.4 Typical Teenagers in Today’s World
3.5 Understanding Presentations of the Self in Contemporary Society
Chapter Four. Findings: Civic Identity
4.1 What Does it Mean to be a Citizen?
4.1.1 Citizenship as an Emotional Sense of Belonging
4.1.2 Citizenship as a Legal Status
4.1.3 Citizenship as a Legal Right to Belong
4.1.4 Citizenship as Defined by Age
4.1.5 Citizenship as Active Involvement in the Community
4.2 What Does it Mean to be Civically Engaged?
4.2.1 Improving the Community
4.2.2 Interacting with Others
4.2.3 Political Participation
Young Activists at Work: The Case of School Walkouts
4.3 Understanding Civic Identity in Contemporary Society
Chapter Five. Findings: Engaging in the Political World
5.1 Building Voice in Contemporary Society
5.1.1 Paying Attention to Current Events
5.1.2 Learning from Trusted Adults
5.1.3 Choosing a Political Party Affiliation
5.2 Sharing One’s Voice in Contemporary Society
5.2.1 Maintaining Friendships
5.2.2 Young People’s Perceptions of Being Heard
5.2.3 Using Everyday Tools for Political Voice: Young People in the Black Lives Matter Movement
5.3 Engaging in the Political World in Contemporary Society
Chapter Six. Discussion and Conclusion: Youth Voice in Contemporary Society
6.1 Youth in Contemporary Society
6.2 Civic Identity in the Digital Age
6.2.1 A New Framework of Civic Identity
6.2.2 Digitally Mediated Civic Engagement: Opportunities for Youth Voice
6.3 Building Efficacy for Engagement in the Political World: A Case for Civic Education
6.3.1 From Perspective Taking in the Classroom to Efficacy in the Community
6.3.2 Civic Education for Digitally Mediated Civic Engagement
Appendices
Julianne K. Viola is a social scientist investigating youth political engagement in a contemporary society characterised by technology use. She has written for The Conversation and has appeared on the BBC World Service. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, a master’s degree from Harvard University, and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.
‘This book is a rich, nuanced, and thoughtful study of how American youth develop their civic values and capacities in the age of social media.’
–Peter Levine, Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University, USA
‘This thought-provoking book provides compelling insights into young people’s understandings of citizenship and civic engagement in the digital age. Its most significant contribution is to remind us that neither digital nor civic skills are inherent at birth.’
–Victoria Nash, Oxford Internet Institute (OII), University of Oxford, UK
‘Congratulations to Julianne Viola for providing a detailed and insightful portrait of youth civic identity in a time of massive transformation in the ways politics are practiced. The book unpacks youths’ perspectives on their civic engagement, demonstrates that participation varies across groups, and furthers the kind of foundational understanding that can help educators and parents think well about supports for youth voice and influence.’
–Joseph Kahne, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Riverside, USA
‘Contemporary democracies are confronted by significant domestic and global challenges, but governments often lack the support of citizens – especially the young – as they seek to develop plans to resolve these matters. This excellent book is a must-read for all who are interested in how to strengthen the connections between young people and democratic institutions and processes.’
–Matt Henn, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, UK
This book explores young people’s civic experiences in contemporary American society, and how they navigate the political world in an era defined by digital media. Drawing on the experiences of young people before they have reached voting age, the book provides vital perspectives on citizenship and civic engagement of a part of the population that is often overlooked. The author engages with the tensions that young people encounter in their everyday personal and civic lives and introduces a new framework of civic identity that has been directly informed by the lived civic experiences of young people themselves.
Julianne K. Viola is a social scientist investigating youth political engagement in contemporary society. She holds degrees from Cornell University, Harvard University, and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.