Dr. Gunnar Gilbert speaking on Youth in Urban World -Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy 4-3-2013

Mapping Aspirations:
Identity and lifechancesamongyoungadultsin aglobalizing world
(Young adults, identities and life chances)

The starting point forthe following projectsis to examineyoung adults'aspirations, perceptions, dreams and life projects in India and Sweden. In the background lies the assumption that globalization and the changing labor market has provided an individualisation of young people's lives. Thisin turn impliesa tension between thenew requirementsand traditional valuesand communities.This alsoimplicatea reflexiveimperativeandaninternalization ofindividual responsibility. The goal is to identify young adults 'aspirations and to relate this mapping to the underlying social and cultural factors that affect young adults' opportunities and life chances.

The concept ofaspirationswill be brokendownintosevenbasic areas to be examined. Theseare:
• Work (perceptionsand aspirationsconcerning work)
• Sexuality(linked toidentity, morality, lifestyle and tradition)
• Family (the perception of familyina broad sense).
• Social networks(importance of social capital)
• Culturalresources (the importance of cultural capital)
• Successand failure(ideas about whatsuccessmeans and howfailurescan be understood)
• RoleModels(which role modelsare presentandhoware they linked todifferentmoralpriorities)