Contested Places, Contested Identities

I found the topic “transgression in public place” involving adolescents very interesting as I believe most people, including me, had been there at one point of their lives. And why are adolescents' use of space often deemed as transgressive? Because as Nolan (2003, 314) has stated, “The category of adolescence has socially constructed young people as being distinct from adults (White 1990 and Valentine et al. 1998, quoted in Nolan 2003, 314), and teenager are often stereotypically characterised as a “polluting presence” (Matthew et al. 2000, quoted in Nolan 2003, 314), out of control, and requiring supervision (Lesko 1996, quoted in Nolan 2003, 314).” In society, adolescents don't have much of a voice as their opinions are often not taken seriously, or worse not matter, due to lack of seniority and life experience. Therefore, they get excluded from the planning of spaces, and “the social environment of the street” (Nolan 2003, 313).

Skateboarders is a good example as it is an easily recognisable stereotype, though I hardly see any in the areas of Perth I've been to, except in designated skate parks. I remember for many years skateboarding was, and probably still is, a symbol of youth, rebel and freedom. “Misunderstood” adolescents escaping from domestic nagging on their skateboards, and spending every drop of their energy on perfecting stunts. Besides the skateboard in hand, skateboarders are often identified by their branded skate attire ie Etnies, Globe, Vans etc., and the older teens often display a facade that hints at rebellion ie tattoos, piercings, unconventional hair colour etc. At one point in my teenage years, skate fashion was more of a statement than practicality. I remember hanging out with friends who were dressed from head to toe in skate attire but weren't actually skateboarders. They wanted to be identified by the stigma, or image, surrounding skaters– sending a message to society that they're “misunderstood”, and not afraid to break rules to prove their point. Adolescents up till today use public space to express themselves and, as we've seen on graffiti-lined walls around the world, also to channel their often oppressed voices. In return, the wider society (comprised of adults) would then endeavour to control the use of public space through “regulations” (Nolan 2003, 313). And it becomes a vicious cycle.

Another example of transgressional use of public space by adolescents, I've personally come across, is the use of void decks of high rise dwellings. In Singapore, where most people live in high rises, more often than not youths meet up and gather at void decks (see picture below). “Void deck kids” were being similarly compared (unjustly in my opinion) to latchkey kids, as they spent their whole afternoon and evening socialising at void decks. I remember my mother's daily warnings against mingling with the “void deck kids”. To most parents I know, having your kids seen loitering and socialising at void decks is a sign of parenting defect. Anyway, some time later, law against gathering at void decks were enforced, making any gathering of more than 2 people at void decks and certain public spaces in residential areas illegal.
 

Taken from http://www.panoramio.com/photo/17317708

Reference List

Nolan, N. 2003 “The ins and outs of skateboarding and transgression in public space in Newcastle,

Australia.” Australian Geographer 34: 311–327

Panoramio. Seating on the Void Deck- Block 933. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/17317708