Australian Youth Stereotypes

The Australian youth are impacted by negative discourses throughout many domains of society. Simply being under the age of 25 allows for stereotypes and generalisations to be made. It is through this that youth are often left voiceless, not being able to have a say and an impact in their community. More specifically youth are left voiceless and stigmatised through their employment, with workers under the age of 20 being paid less for doing the same job as someone slightly older. This pay discrepancy is discriminating and stigmatising Australian youth aged 18 and 19. Legally in Australia at the age of 18 you are considered an adult, but are unable to be paid the full adult wage. Junior pay rates do not take into account young people’s experience, meaning they will be earning less than someone merely 2 years older …show more content…
You can purchase alcohol and cigarettes, you can vote in elections, you can drive a car and get married. How is it then, that as an adult you cannot get paid the full adult wage until you’re 20? Many commentators and social researchers believe that young people in Australia and other western countries increasingly reject the responsibilities and commitments that come with "adulthood" (Allan, Taylor & Borlagdan, 2013). This stereotype and the negative discourses towards youth often create dismissive attitudes towards young people, especially in relation to maturity. This can in turn make it difficult for youth to advocate for themselves. In the eyes of many, young people’s lived experience gets little acknowledgement further rendering them voiceless. A central task of adolescence is to help children transform into adult roles and responsibilities (Tolan, 2014). Youth at the age of 18 ready to take on adult roles and responsibilities are not being taken seriously in their employment. Unequal pay rates based on age contradicts being seen as an adult in the eyes of the law at