Activating Youth Activism
Posted by chet on 05-03-2006I'll admit right off the bat that I'm not very active when it comes to activism. In fact, I can't really think of anything I've done of significance. Through my job I often try to align our brand with causes when it makes sense, maybe that counts…probably not. It's sad. But I really want to get involved. I have strong opinions on things like the environment, human rights and community issues. I talk about it a lot. But I don't do anything. My main excuse? I'm too busy…
Many people would say my own case is typical of the Millennials. If there's one burning question mark hanging over this generation, it's whether or not they will dig in and take action. We all know that on the whole they have very community-minded, global and progressive views. But some critics (including Anastasia!) wonder if they are drowning in apathy, or are used to things being handed to them.
MTV recently released a great report titled "Just Cause," looking at what activism means to youth, how they're getting involved, what the barriers are, and how to break them down. I recommend reading the full report, and a summary can be found here.
One thing that struck me was how what's motivating today's youth is presenting challenges for the organizations trying to get them involved. Seventy-five percent want to help others, because "it's the right thing for me to do." It's very personal. The majority of youth who volunteer do so because they have been personally touched by an issue or their parents encouraged them. The issue needs to hit close to home to spark interest.
And when it comes to involvement, community matters most. It's both the cause and the motivator (teens want to volunteer with their friends). It's also a different type of community, with virtual ties through the Internet that remove physical boundaries. However, as the report states, "youth often show enthusiasm at the thought of helping the community through volunteering…but are often unable to follow through with their plans."
There is definitely an "activation gap" between wanting to do something and actually doing it. While 38% describe themselves as very interested, only 19% are very involved. The top barriers generally fall into time constraints, not knowing how to start, and wanting to see results. Activation needs to fit their lifestyle and needs to be encouraged. Not having time was a key theme. Better resources, the ability to participate with friends, and easier access were seen as ways to help them get involved. I can identify with that.
The report is full of great stats and qoutes from respondents, which helps to paint a strong picture of the issues. I'll let you draw your conclusion about the answer to the question of youth involvement - but one thing made clear by the report is that the potential is there for organizations to tap into.
May 3rd, 2006 at 1:09 pm
I think the problem with activism today is that we're applying a 30 year old definition of activism to the Millenials.
This group is active in their everyday life. They spend money based on what their conscience tells them to, not like the Boomers who spend money based on what they think their friends think they should buy.
They're not going to burn bras and march on Washington, but they're going to change the world because it's not just a million people showing up for a rally, it's every one of them living it every day.
May 5th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
I agree with Rick. Young people are routinely involved in social change, in a variety of ways that don't necessarily equate to historical perceptions of activism. They're also addressing a issues that are summarily dismissed by old-line social justice organizations.
Ironically, its young people themselves, and not the organizations targeting them, who are using the skills and abilities they have at hand to become engaged. If youth-serving organizations want to effectively engage young people in community organizing and activism they are going to have to reconceptualize their approaches and identity in order to align with what young people are seeking, instead of expecting the opposite.