Participation and influence : A study within youth recreations centers about girls’ development into future citizens.

Young people cannot, due to their age, possess a full citizenship. But through their education, they are future citizens under development and have rights such as participation and influence in matters that affect their lives. Historically, women have been excluded from citizenship. Young girls today are thus in a complex situation where their sex and age can affect their citizenship. The aim is therefore to provide further understanding of how experiences of participation and influence are interpreted by girls between the ages of 13 – 17 within youth recreation centers in Växjö municipality, as part of the development of a future citizenship. It also intends to examine what influences the girl’s interpretations of participation and influence. The theoretical outset starts with Marshall and Bottomore’s theory of citizenship but mainly focuses on Listers four building blocks for children and young people's citizenship as well as gender and power. The study is based on twelve semi-structured interviews with girls who visits different youth recreation centers. The outcome shows that the girls have experience of participation and influence because they feel included. They view age and lack of knowledge as possible risks of not getting the opportunity for participation and influence. Personal qualities such as responsibility alongside with the social environment’s acceptance creates the conditions and opportunities to participation and influence. One conclusion is that; affiliation, inclusion, interaction with the social environment, individual characteristics and social relationships to friends and youth recreation leaders can influence the girl’s interpretations of participation and influence. The main conclusion is that opportunities to exercise participation and influence is seen as a process of becoming a future citizen.