Why should the young have to conform?
Howard Williamson
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I have just read Helen Reddington's book The Lost Women of Rock Music, which traces what happened to the influx of female musicians who entered the business in the 1970s and early 80s.
It took me back to one of my first research posts, which was as part of a team evaluating the impact of the Youth Opportunities Programme (the first major government youth training initiative that ran from 1979 to 1983).
The study involved a survey of over 600 minimum age school leavers, tracking their progress over the following two years. It then paid particular attention to those who became unemployed and joined a training scheme. My role in the research was primarily to conduct the more qualitative aspects of the inquiry - more probing discussions and participant observations with these young people.
The school leavers' survey was carried out with questionnaires administered by a market research team. However, just occasionally, I was asked to step in when, from scrutiny of school and careers records, it looked as if the young person might prove "awkward". This led me to visiting the home of Michelle. Not that there was much to indicate her "awkwardness", except for a note by the careers service that she was unlikely to secure shop or office work because she "refuses to wear a skirt". Factory work was her only prospect, according to officials.
Michelle came to the door of the small council house dressed in jeans, T-shirt and black biker jacket. She welcomed me in, made a drink and willingly settled down to answer the questionnaire. I reached the questions about "occupational aspirations". She said all she was interested in was becoming a musician - a punk drummer! Not quite the answer I expected. I was a little sceptical until she asked me if I wanted to see her drum kit. With a £300 grant from The Prince's Trust she had installed a kit in the outside coalshed and insulated the walls with polystyrene strips from apple boxes. She gave me a demonstration.
Nobody believed in her, she said. Her parents were hassling her to get a job in the factory where they worked; the careers officers were hassling her to wear a skirt. But she was determined not to be pigeonholed and made to conform. I admired her guts and enthusiasm - a premature display of "girl power".
Three years later, aged 19, I saw her playing in a band supporting The Au Pairs. She hadn't exactly "made it", but she was getting by, enjoying life, and still not having to wear a skirt.
- Howard Williamson is professor of European youth policy at the University of Glamorgan, and a member of the Youth Justice Board. Email howard.williamson@haymarket.com.