Currently, in youth clubs, although there is togetherness and a sense of belonging among participants, these clubs are not operating at their full potential. The formation of identity in youth clubs is essential to creating a space that feels truly collective. Members are yet to reach a stage where we can call it a cohesive, collective space.
Searching ‘Oldest Youth Club in India‘ gave some results with only two, which made sense. My search query could’ve been better too. Still, all I got was a page which had information about Mohun Bagan Athletic Club which is a football club founded in 1889 and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan which happens to be the oldest youth organization established in 1972 to provide rural youth avenues to take part in the process of nation-building as well as provide opportunities for the development of identity in youth clubs.
Now, where am I in all of this? For the past six months, I have lived in Thakurganj, Bihar, working with Project Potential to build a strong network of 400+ youths by forming clubs in neighbouring panchayats for youth empowerment. I am also a member of this network because of the nature of the system and my role in it. As an active member of these club spaces my job is to make sure that these spaces function effectively with sessions contributing towards the learning of every member.
The objective of these spaces was to form a small collective of future leaders in multiple panchayats who are socially conscious, ambitious, and have a strong sense of agency. Currently, some clubs excel in various program and social metrics; however, others still need significant work to instil a sense of collective identity and self-awareness among members.
The Role of Identity In Youth Clubs
Identity in itself is a compelling factor in contributing to collectivism. Imagine, it’s your first day in a space where people of your age, some of your neighbours too are present and all you have are just introduced to the program that you have just become a part of and what will happen in the upcoming months. The idea of the space where this group exists can vary, but whether it resonates with its members is a key question. Organizers often highlight the club’s benefits when mobilizing people but rarely mention that their values and actions may be challenged. This happens because the space is diverse by design, and everyone brings some level of individuality.
Some youths in our systems lack strong individuality and often align with the space’s values. However, even when members align with program values, gaps in youth engagement remain.
For instance, one youth shared that everyone felt uncomfortable with a session held near a butcher shop. The idea that one of the common values made them express their dissent hints at the fact that how individual values or identity contributes to collectivism. Building both individual and collective identities among members is essential to make identity in Youth Clubs more accessible. These identities encompass individuals’ presence during club sessions as well as the socially distinguishable features of the club itself. Quoting from a research paper 1 by James D Pearson in 1999:
“In ordinary speech and most academic writing, ‘identity’ means either
(a) a social category, defined by membership rules and allegedly characteristic attributes or expected behaviors, or
(b) a socially distinguishing feature that a person takes special pride in or views as unchangeable but socially consequential (or, of course, both (a) and (b) at once).”
In rural areas, youth clubs use visual elements like murals/signages to foster belonging and togetherness among members. This image displays the Sifung Harimu Afad’s visual identity, using text and colours to symbolize a collective identity.
Facilitating Individual And Collective Identity In Youth Clubs
Earlier, I mentioned the need to build an identity that is both individualistic and collective. If I join a group but fail to form associations despite efforts, there is no collective. Even if I get along with everyone, I may still not align mentally with the group or its goals. For me, finding associations is crucial. I adopt practices of a new place when I find meaning in its rituals or feel comfortable in a space, whether surrounded by familiar or unfamiliar people.
While many factors influence our choices, having agency in such spaces fosters bonding with the collective and supports individual interests. But how can we facilitate individual identity building? Since individual identity development is an internal process, external factors may or may not speed it up. Collective identity forms easily because spaces are built with specific agendas, making objectivity simpler than subjectivity. Erik Erikson’s 2 stages of identity development, especially for youths, highlight how guided exploration can help them develop their identities. Targeted interventions to help them recognize their strengths and interests are beneficial for facilitating individual identity building.
Encouraging Dialogue And Reflection
These spaces host activities that foster discussion, helping members reflect, recognize each other’s potential, and learn collectively. These activities not only promote self-learning but also foster collective interests and objectives. An activity like ‘Origin Gatherers’ encourages participants to think creatively and make connections based on limited information. When conducted in a youth club space, each member reflects individually on a discovery. The group then discusses it and develops a plausible or creative explanation for how it might have happened. Know more about these groups here.
Another activity, ‘Desires vs. Values: Tug of War,‘ helps identify conflicts between personal desires and core values. It supports identity building while fostering collective goals through group discussions on individual values. The space should provide adequate opportunities for members to express their perspectives, often facilitated through structured dialogue sessions.
Building on this, collective interests and objectives accelerate the process of individual identity building. After completing an activity, members form their perspectives if the learning objectives resonate with them, laying the foundation for their identities. However, with diverse identities in a single place, differing perspectives can often cause tension.
The Impact Of Group Membership On Identity
Every member contributes to the collective through their presence, actions, and communication. What can lead to forming collective interests and objectives may not resonate with each member’s perspective, making it challenging to establish a collective identity that aligns with everyone.
When people join spaces based on certain ideas or agendas, new members often face difficulties. Even when members join willingly, openly challenging their perspectives can create friction, forming smaller groups within the larger space, which harms the collective.
A person’s sense of who they are is often influenced by their group memberships. Tajfel 3 argued that social identity—the sense of belonging to a group—contributes to self-esteem and shapes behaviours and attitudes toward others.
The Influence Of Physical Space On Identity
Who defines the collective identity of a youth club? If the sense of self is continuously affected by the collective, forming a collective identity with evolving selves becomes challenging. However, the physical space remains constant in all of this.
Connecting with the space’s appearance, whether others are present or not, can create a sense of belonging. Group associations can then develop over time. Members can achieve association with the physical space through co-creation, incorporating various perspectives into every aspect of its design.
Certain values drive the program. When diverse people share the space, what happens to its collective identity? Is it established when the space is created with a specific agenda, or does it evolve gradually as the space is used?
Especially in purpose-driven spaces, collective identity should be more flexible. Letting members discuss their interpretations of pre-designated values can foster a more cohesive and adaptable collective identity. I have personally observed spaces slowly morph and adopt an identity over time, even if designated for specific requirements. The evolving nature of collective identity can provide a structure that adapts to individual growth, which can be beneficial in an environment where youth are exploring and redefining their sense of self.
References
- Fearon, James. (1999). What Is Identity (As We Now Use the Word?). ↩︎
- Orenstein GA, Lewis L. Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development. [Updated 2022 Nov 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556096/ ↩︎ - Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. (Year). Social Identity Theory. In The Psychology of Intergroup Relations. ↩︎
0 Comments