‘Once you bond … you want to create social change’: Interpersonal relationships in youth activism

Abstract

This paper calls for greater attention to the interpersonal aspects of youth activism through a sociological and Black feminist exploration of peer relationships within youth political engagement. Drawing on a multi-method qualitative research, the work foregrounds the perspectives and experiences of Black girls and girls of colour involved in an anti-racist Scottish youth work charity. I argue that community and friendship ties cultivated participants' activism. Moreover, participants sought to enact social change by undertaking activist educational practices with their peers. This paper demonstrates how studying young people's peer relationships can engender a better understanding of youth activism and support it.