Abstract:
How young people conceptualise adulthood and the transition to adulthood can be influenced by a variety of factors, including geographic context and socio-cultural belonging. This paper reports on one aspect of a larger qualitative study designed to better understand the transition to adulthood as experienced by Australian Sudanese and South Sudanese youths. Employing a voice-centred relational methodology (VCRM) approach, the aim of the research presented in this paper was to gain a better understanding of the conceptualisations held by Australian Sudanese and South Sudanese youths regarding adulthood and the transition to adulthood. This study adopted a multi-site case design, where participants were recruited from two Melbourne based non-for-profit community organisations that work with Sudanese and South Sudanese communities respectively. This paper presents findings arising from the data from 12 participants. All data was analysed using an adapted version of the VCRM listening guide. Examples of findings are presented via VCRM pronoun poems,which were constructed throughout this analysis.
The findings of this study suggest that Australian Sudanese and South Sudanese youths conceptualise adulthood and the transition to adulthood based on internal individualistic criteria, which is relatively consistent with research across a variety of social/cultural groups. Yet, for the participants in this study, there is evidence to suggest that several key cultural considerations underpin these conceptualisations. How these conceptualisations of adulthood become operationalised in Melbourne, Australia, is reported to be influenced by a variety of socio-cultural variables that have the potential to impede a smooth transition to adulthood. In recent times, young people from these communities have been receiving high levels of negative public and political attention in Australia regarding their socio-cultural belonging. Placing their voices at the centre, this paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the experiences of these youths regarding the transition to adulthood. It is hoped that this, in turn may contribute to the further development of culturally responsive educational policies and practices directed to address the needs of these young people throughout their transition to adulthood in Australia.
The findings of this study suggest that Australian Sudanese and South Sudanese youths conceptualise adulthood and the transition to adulthood based on internal individualistic criteria, which is relatively consistent with research across a variety of social/cultural groups. Yet, for the participants in this study, there is evidence to suggest that several key cultural considerations underpin these conceptualisations. How these conceptualisations of adulthood become operationalised in Melbourne, Australia, is reported to be influenced by a variety of socio-cultural variables that have the potential to impede a smooth transition to adulthood. In recent times, young people from these communities have been receiving high levels of negative public and political attention in Australia regarding their socio-cultural belonging. Placing their voices at the centre, this paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the experiences of these youths regarding the transition to adulthood. It is hoped that this, in turn may contribute to the further development of culturally responsive educational policies and practices directed to address the needs of these young people throughout their transition to adulthood in Australia.