Precarious reciprocity: How do young people drawing means-tested unemployment benefit see their interrelationship with the institution?

Abstract

"The article raises the question of how young people interpret their relationship to institutions of the social state under these conditions. Here the concept of reciprocity serves as the heuristic framework for questions of mutual reference. Linked up with the adolescence theory, the specific situation of young adults is focused upon in this context. They have to cope both with socially determined transitions such as the independent securing of one's means of living via work as well as with psychic tasks of development such as the dissolution of the generational relationship. The fields of tension that arise from this are worked out via a theoretically attuned scrutiny of the empirical material in the form of two case analyses. To do this, first the sociological concept of reciprocity in general is explained below (1) as well as the relationship to the Basic Income Support system (2). Next, the prevalent special position of young people there is dealt with (3). And finally there follows an analysis of the institution-related interpretation of reciprocity using the empirical material (4). The article closes with a discussion of the findings under the points of view particularly relevant for young adolescents: recognition and autonomy (5)." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku)

Cite article

Figlesthaler, C. & Zahradnik, F. (2012): Prekäre Reziprozität: Wie deuten junge Menschen im Arbeitslosengeld-II-Bezug die Wechselbeziehung mit der Institution? In: M. Bereswill, C. Figlestahler, L. Y. Haller, M. Perels & F. Zahradnik (Hrsg.) (2012): Wechselverhältnisse im Wohlfahrtstaat : Dynamiken gesellschaftlicher Justierungsprozesse, p. 255-272.