Transitions, Networks and Communities: The Significance of Social Capital in the Lives of Children and Young People

Abstract

The theoretical fathers of social capital (Putnam, Coleman and Bourdieu) are criticised for seeing children as passive recipients of parental social capital rather than active producers, and recent literature and debate has attempted to correct this earlier imbalance. We contribute to this work by using social capital as a lens through which to explore transitions, networks and communities in the lives of children and young people. Drawing on three studies from the Families and Social Capital ESRC Research Group programme, we highlight the diverse experiences of young people through a broad spectrum of participants aged 11–30 from different class, ethnic and faith backgrounds, living in a range of national and transnational contexts. We reject the deficit model of young people's social capital, demonstrating the many and varied ways that children and young people develop and use social capital to negotiate important transitions and construct their identities.

Notes

1. Funded by ESRC (M570255001); see www.lsbu.ac.uk/families

2. Susie Weller.

3. Janet Holland.

4. Components of the longitudinal study—Youth Values: A study of identity, diversity and social change, ESRC funded (L129251020), Inventing Adulthoods: Young people's strategies for transition, ESRC (L134251008); Youth Transitions, part of the Families and Social Capital ESRC Research Group at London South Bank University (M570255001). The core research team are Sheila Henderson, Janet Holland, Sheena McGrellis, Sue Sharpe and Rachel Thompson.

5. Tracey Reynolds.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janet Holland

All authors are with the Families and Social Capital ESRC Research Group, FAHS, London South Bank University