Bad Kids: Transformation Of The Juvenile Court

Throughout the course of modern history, the views of adolescence have led to them being considered inferior to those older than them. Often times, young adults and children are represented as unknowing, which therefore allows for a measure of control to be had over them; moreover, the ideas of inferiority are also present in regard to race and race relations. In Nancy Lesko 's article, "Denaturalizing Adolescence: The Politics of Contemporary Representations," and in Barry C. Feld 's book Bad Kids: Race and the Transformation of the Juvenile Court, they argue that those in power, be them adults, white individuals, or both, have a measure of control over those considered inferior. During the history of the world, the value of adults has

This is seen in Barry Feld 's Bad Kids: Race and the Transformation of the Juvenile Court, through Feld 's statement that "proponents [of the juvenile court system] reluctantly acknowledge that juvenile courts often fail either to "save" children or to reduce youth crime" (Feld, 1999, p. 3). The creation of the juvenile court came from Progressive reformers who thought that the judges in these courts could make decisions for the best interest of children (Feld, 1999); however, the courts were used to "respond flexibly to youths ' criminal and noncriminal misconduct… and to expand control and supervision of young people and their families" (Feld, 1999, p. 4). This information presented shows a different side of the ideas of control as suggested in Lesko 's article. However, Feld 's article addresses the power imbalance that also involves race and socioeconomics. In Feld 's book, he states that "juvenile courts function to maintain social control of minority youths, predominately young black males" (Feld, 1999, p. 5). Again, the inferior, in this case, young black males, are suppressed by the "majority," adults, and, like adolescents, young black males are not taken seriously because of the negative stereotypes associated with their demographic. Barry C. Feld and Nancy Lesko both address the ideas of power and control, yet

Feld 's book Bad Kids: Race and the Transformation of the Juvenile Court, they argue that power and control lead to those being controlled to neither be taken seriously, nor respected as individuals. The imbalance of power between two groups, such as those varying in age or race, lead to further complications for those in the "minorities." Thus, the imbalance of power between groups causes a cycle of disparity between groups which leads to further strife between groups and within the world at