Scared Of The Children Study Guide
1. Discuss with some reference to Furedi’s ‘culture of fear’, the factors that can elevate the issue of youth crime, explored in the book Scared of the kids.
Over recent years, the issue of youth crime has been nationally elevated. This has been highlighted by changes in society and in particular the way that older generations view the younger members of society, especially teenagers and because of this new laws that target young people have been put into place. Furedi (2006) believes that society now lives under a ‘culture of fear’, which explores the idea that in the 21st century individuals look onto everything that carries a minor risk with a disproportionate amount of fear. This new culture has resulted in the actions of youths being looked upon negatively and in turn has meant that adults are now scared of the kids. This essay will examine these factors that …show more content…
elevate the issue of youth crime further and examine the new relationships between societies young and old.
To explore ‘the culture of fear’ further it is worthwhile looking at other sociologist’s views on modern societies paranoia. Anthony Giddens (1994) believes that society now lives under ‘reflexive modernity’ as it must face the ramifications of the rapid development that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries. Giddens’ concludes that the unnecessary fear behind some of the world’s most feared pandemics such as AIDs acts as a positive as it means campaigns have the social backing to actively pursue information about such panics which may reduce risks to individuals. Frank Furedi disagrees with the motion that promoting these risks are positive. Furedi looks at societies insecurity about crime as opposed to health and the
environment and finds that even though statistically there is no real increase in crime, its clear that individuals are becoming more and more fearful of it. Unlike Giddens, Furedi believes that this culture of fear is in no way positive and by continuing to promote these risks will only make the situation worse. The risks have meant that members of society have become isolated and no longer trust members of their community and the safety campaigns set up to reduce the fears of these risks only alienate individuals even more (Furedi 2006). Jock Young is a criminologist who has the view that youths are starting to commit street crime more due to the “structural dislocation, marginalisation, relative deprivation and powerlessness”. However, following Furedi’s theory rather than the increase in levels of street crime, it is in fact the fear of crime and the safety campaigns set up to reduce risk which are furthering this structural dislocation, marginalisation and sense of powerlessness.
.
Over recent years, the issue of youth crime has been nationally elevated. This has been highlighted by changes in society and in particular the way that older generations view the younger members of society, especially teenagers and because of this new laws that target young people have been put into place. Furedi (2006) believes that society now lives under a ‘culture of fear’, which explores the idea that in the 21st century individuals look onto everything that carries a minor risk with a disproportionate amount of fear. This new culture has resulted in the actions of youths being looked upon negatively and in turn has meant that adults are now scared of the kids. This essay will examine these factors that …show more content…
elevate the issue of youth crime further and examine the new relationships between societies young and old.
To explore ‘the culture of fear’ further it is worthwhile looking at other sociologist’s views on modern societies paranoia. Anthony Giddens (1994) believes that society now lives under ‘reflexive modernity’ as it must face the ramifications of the rapid development that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries. Giddens’ concludes that the unnecessary fear behind some of the world’s most feared pandemics such as AIDs acts as a positive as it means campaigns have the social backing to actively pursue information about such panics which may reduce risks to individuals. Frank Furedi disagrees with the motion that promoting these risks are positive. Furedi looks at societies insecurity about crime as opposed to health and the
environment and finds that even though statistically there is no real increase in crime, its clear that individuals are becoming more and more fearful of it. Unlike Giddens, Furedi believes that this culture of fear is in no way positive and by continuing to promote these risks will only make the situation worse. The risks have meant that members of society have become isolated and no longer trust members of their community and the safety campaigns set up to reduce the fears of these risks only alienate individuals even more (Furedi 2006). Jock Young is a criminologist who has the view that youths are starting to commit street crime more due to the “structural dislocation, marginalisation, relative deprivation and powerlessness”. However, following Furedi’s theory rather than the increase in levels of street crime, it is in fact the fear of crime and the safety campaigns set up to reduce risk which are furthering this structural dislocation, marginalisation and sense of powerlessness.
.