Constitution of juvenile masculinities in "difficult" contexts: experiences of youths in urban outskirts in France

Abstract

Relying on gender studies and post-structuralist cultural and political anthropology, we analyze information generated in group discussions and interviews with French youngsters from Grigny Center - on the outskirts of Paris- with a view to discussing elements, appearing in the discourse as "relevant" words, involved in the processes of constituting juvenile male identity in that particular context. We suggest that these relevant words define ways of being and living and of putting into practice masculinity. This discussion may assist in reflecting on the 'problem' of poor urban youth in Brazil.

Youth; Masculinity; Identity; Urban Outskirts