The project examines what constitutes ‘solidarity’ for young people (age 15 to 18) and how their solidarities are negotiated in relation to communities, spaces, belonging, togetherness and otherness, and social and societal positions of power and inequality. These questions are investigated in three locations representing the central communal environments of young people: school, street and online. The project uses digital ethnographic methods together with creative methods to increase understanding of young people’s solidarities and how they can be developed in professional work done with youth.
The project contributes to the theoretical debate on contemporary solidarity among and with young people. The methodological aim is to rethink innovative ways of creating knowledge with young people about morally sensitive issues. The project engages with practical establishment of strength-based preventive social work, which is highlighted in Finnish legislation but not clearly identified in practice. The overall aim of the project is to sketch out a theoretically and empirically grounded concept of ‘solidarity’ which can help to create social cohesion and individual wellbeing in contemporary communities characterized by pluralism of values and attachments.
Research team
Professor Riikka Korkiamäki
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Tiina Määttä
Doctoral Student Annika Lehtonen
Researcher Elina Vaahensalo (University of Turku)
Dr. Ayeshah Emond, UK (University College London)
Research Assistant Nina Vanhatalo