Publisher's Synopsis
This important text examines how young people growing up come to be recognized as independent citizens and to what extent access to citizenship is determined by their economic circumstances and level of economic dependency. It explores how the transition from dependent child to independent adult is structured by relationships with family members, the market place and the institutions of the state. It considers how much freedom young people really have to make decisions about their lives, and identifies inequalities of opportunity and choice, stemming from their social class, gender, ethnicity, location and economic status. The text integrates often separated aspects of young people's lives - as family and peer group members, as trainees or workers, and as consumers.
