The Space and Power of Young People's Social Relationships: Geographies of Immersion

The book explores the power of young people's social relationships in schools to transform or continue differences such as mind-body-emotional differences, Special Educational Needs and Disability, gender, poverty, race/ethnicity, sexuality, and their intersections. It conducts extensive qualitative research with young people, emphasizing their accounts and developing concepts of embodied social and emotional capital and young people as contextual bodies/subjectivities/agencies. It highlights how and when young people challenge and change enduring differences, such as through the concept of 'immersive geographies.' The book makes a significant interdisciplinary contribution to geographies, social studies of children, youth, and education, child development, social work, social policy, and education studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 19 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The book delves into the profound impact of young people's social connections within schools on shaping or perpetuating societal differences, encompassing a wide range of factors such as mind-body-emotional disparities, Special Educational Needs and Disability, gender, poverty, race/ethnicity, sexuality, and their intersections. Through extensive qualitative research, the book forefronts the voices and experiences of young individuals, challenging educators and others to engage with their agency and create spaces for their socialities.

In developing the concepts of embodied social and emotional capital and young people as contextual bodies/subjectivities/agencies, the book emphasizes both the agency of young people and the socio-spatial constraints and enablers that shape their experiences. It is particularly interested in exploring how and when young people challenge and transform enduring differences.

The book introduces the concept of 'immersive geographies,' which highlights the potential for change inherent in the repeated gatherings of individuals in space, engaging in provisional and diverse activities. It provides examples of when differences are transformed through these interactions.

This book makes a significant interdisciplinary contribution to the fields of geographies, social studies of children, youth, and education, child development, social work, social policy, and education studies. Its insights are valuable to educators, policy makers, youth workers, social workers, and parents alike, as it sheds light on the complex dynamics of young people, social reproduction, and sociality.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367463236