Youth on the Edge: Navigating the Bumpy Road to Adulthood
In a fiercely polarized, starkly unequal world, more young people have found themselves struggling as they navigate a path into an adult life of meaning and impact. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of prefiguration and resilience, a study by Anastasiia Andreeva, Elena Omelchenko, and Pavel Sorokin highlights the diverse ways in which young people in Russia respond to the uncertainties shaping their lives.
The study offers a nuanced exploration of the challenges faced by young people in Russia as they navigate the complexities of adulthood in the context of political, economic, and social instability. By combining the theoretical frameworks of prefiguration and resilience, the research highlights the diverse ways in which Russian youth respond to the uncertainties that characterize their lived experiences. These responses are not mere reactions to adversity, but active engagements with their environment that reflect both resistance and adaptation.
At the heart of this investigation is the concept of prefiguration. Originally rooted in social movements, prefiguration is used here to describe how youth envision and enact their futures in a way that both challenges and transforms the conditions in which they live. For many young people, prefiguration becomes a vital tool for imagining new possibilities and crafting pathways toward alternative futures, even when faced with systemic limitations. Through prefigurative acts, these youth challenge prevailing norms and actively construct new identities, values, and aspirations, all while navigating a world shaped by uncertainty.
Resilience plays a critical role in the study, particularly in the way it is framed as a dynamic process of adaptation. Rather than simply the ability to endure hardship, resilience here is seen as a multifaceted process involving both personal strength and external support systems. The study identifies key resources that enhance youth resilience, such as strong family ties, access to education, and involvement in supportive community networks. These resources help young people maintain a sense of agency, enabling them to persevere in the face of adversity. Resilience is not a static trait but a fluid and evolving set of responses that allow youth to continue their development despite the obstacles they encounter.
The research also emphasizes the shifting nature of youth identity in the context of uncertainty. Through interviews with young people from different backgrounds, the study uncovers the diverse ways in which they construct their identities and make sense of their futures. For youth from more privileged backgrounds, there is often a clearer sense of optimism and possibility, bolstered by access to resources and opportunities. These young people tend to view the future as a space of potential, where they can pursue personal and professional aspirations with relative certainty. In contrast, youth from disadvantaged backgrounds adopt a more pragmatic approach, one that centers on resilience and survival rather than idealistic dreams. For them, navigating the uncertainties of life means constantly adapting to shifting circumstances and creating stability where it seems scarce.
Another important theme in the study is the role of digital technology in shaping the lives of youth. The internet and social media platforms provide young people with crucial spaces for self-expression, social connection, and access to information. These digital platforms also offer an avenue for young people to challenge the dominant narratives of Russian national identity and engage in forms of resistance that might not be possible in offline spaces. Yet, the study also acknowledges the darker side of digital life, including the risks of cyberbullying, the spread of misinformation, and the potential for online communities to exacerbate feelings of isolation and anxiety. Despite these risks, the digital world remains a significant tool for fostering resilience, enabling young people to form connections and exchange ideas that can enhance their sense of agency.
The study also makes an important distinction between youth in urban and rural settings, revealing significant differences in how they engage with prefiguration and resilience. Urban youth, often exposed to a wider array of ideas and opportunities, tend to adopt more overt forms of resistance and activism. They are more likely to engage with broader social and political issues, using their privilege and access to challenge existing power structures. On the other hand, rural youth, constrained by fewer opportunities and resources, often take a more localized approach to resilience. Their strategies are centered on survival and adaptability within the confines of their immediate environment, rather than on large-scale societal change.
Education plays a pivotal role in shaping the resilience of Russian youth. Schools and universities are not only sites of formal learning but also key spaces where young people develop their social and political identities. The research underscores the importance of educational environments that nurture critical thinking, creativity, and social engagement, as these attributes allow young people to better navigate the challenges they face. However, the study also points out that access to quality education is highly uneven in Russia, creating disparities between those who have the privilege of attending elite institutions and those who struggle with limited opportunities. These disparities deepen the divide between urban and rural youth, reinforcing existing social inequalities.
In conclusion, the study offers a complex portrait of Russian youth in times of uncertainty, revealing how they respond to instability through acts of resilience and prefiguration. Rather than passively enduring difficult circumstances, young people actively shape their futures by drawing on a variety of personal, social, and technological resources. These strategies of resistance and adaptation enable them to continue their transition to adulthood despite the many challenges they face. The study’s focus on resilience as a dynamic and multifaceted process highlights the agency of young people, illustrating their capacity to envision and build alternative futures even in the face of systemic adversity. By analyzing the role of digital technologies, educational environments, and the divide between urban and rural youth, the research offers valuable insights into the different ways that Russian youth engage with uncertainty and transition into adulthood. Ultimately, it presents a hopeful view of youth as agents of change, capable of reimagining their futures and navigating a world fraught with challenges.
Read the full paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11033088241289209.