Description 'The book is a useful student text that offers a wide range of well informed perspectives on the position of young people in society today. It has built on its successful first edition and should provide a useful springboard to further study' - Scolag Legal Journal 'This resource will be very helpful to all those already working with children and young people and essential for those who are currently learning about how to work with children and young people'- Gill Frances, Director Children's Development National Children's Bureau Are the recent policy initiatives aimed at improving life chances for young people working? Have they affected those most in need? How can young people be given more of a voice in policy making? The new edition of this bestselling text offers a comprehensive introduction to the policy developments affecting young people in today's society, covering the areas of education and training, work, youth justice, residential care and child protection. It brings together a wide-ranging series of readings written by leading experts, to encourage those working with young people, or training to do so, to critically reflect on both the theoretical and practical dimensions of their work. The themes and issues addressed in this book include: citizenship, participation and empowerment; social difference and social identity; images of youth; young people and the politics of service provision; and working with young people in different contexts. This new edition has been revised in order to bring it up-to-date on contemporary policy, law and practice changes and developments. Written in a lively and engaging manner, this accessible text will be invaluable reading for students taking courses in youth and social work, social policy, youth and criminal justice and the sociology of youth. Youth in Society is a set book for the Open University courses K201, Working With Young People and K268, Social Work with Young People.