Distorting assumptions about young
people and how they participate in political processes are common and are often
triggered by lack of understanding and/or by prejudice. These persistent
assumptions inaccurately characterize the everyday experiences of most youth –
who do not constitute a homogenous group – and can lead to discrimination of
young people, negatively affecting their capacity to participate in political
processes.
While some aspects of these negative
assumptions about youth participation are grounded in reality, on the whole
they are misleading. Assumptions
about young people that
distort the actual picture include the following:
- they are apathetic about and disengaged from
politics – so, for example, they don’t bother voting
- they lack maturity, experience, and knowledge,
implying they are not capable or intelligent enough to make informed decisions
(such as when voting) and are easily manipulated
- they are “anti-state,” with a propensity for
violence and extremism.
