Targeting, negative labelling and stigma: challenging the criminalisation of children and young people in care.
Posted on:
A drastic increase in children and young people entering the youth justice system has occurred primarily due to the lack of meaningful opportunities, and boredom drawing young people, unnecessarily into the system for engaging in minor criminal activity.
How negative labels can affect children and young people in life?
There is a theory that if an individual is told they are bad and if they hear it enough times, that person may come to believe that they are indeed “bad.” When that happens, they may be more likely to engage in disruptive and antisocial behaviours.
Criminalizing, School Suspension or Expulsions can stigmatize children and young people
Research also suggests that children who have been subject to a previous suspension are more likely to receive subsequent suspensions for even the most minor school infractions because they are already labelled and perceived by school authorities as being delinquent.
The Negative Label General Symptoms to Watch For:
- Emotional Changes: Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and excessive worry or fear.
- Behavioural Changes: Withdrawal from social activities or relationships and significant changes in sleeping or eating habits. Experience poor academic outcomes and have a higher chance of dropping out of school altogether.
- Cognitive Changes: Difficulty concentrating or making decisions and frequent thoughts of self-harm or harming others.
- The negative label that comes with being suspended or expelled from school becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where the student engages in the antisocial and delinquent behaviours that have come to be expected of them.
Why negative labels and Judging others is Harmful?
Negative Impacts:
- Reduces the likelihood of seeking help due to fear of judgment.
- Worsens mental health conditions due to lack of necessary treatment.
Example Case:
- children hesitates to seek help for depression due to fear of being seen as weak by colleagues.
By aggravating bad behaviours and making it more likely that the student will end up in the juvenile or criminal justice system—a trend sometimes referred to as the school-to-prison pipeline.
In summary children and young people require care and attention, rather than control or corrective forms of intervention.
Alternative approaches to discipline are needed to drive social and economic prosperity through personal development and entrepreneurship education impacting the lives of the people who need it.
Bridging the gap to meaningful opportunities
Genuine Futures support individuals in our communities, who may have faced difficult obstacles and barriers in their lives which have prevented them from achieving their full potential.
Help support and empower future generations end the negative labels of children and give them the confidence to choose their own identity.
What new label will you give a young person today?