Representations of Adolescence in the Modern City: Voluntary Provision and Work in Nottingham and Saint-Etienne,1890-1914

Abstract

Historians agree that around 1900 the concept of adolescence was reworked, valorized, and given scientific legitimacy. In Western political, pedagogical, philanthropic, and literary circles, an understanding of adolescence as a distinct and universal stage of life achieved currency. However, broad studies have glossed over local differences in provision for and representations of adolescence. By comparing representations of adolescence drawn from voluntary provision and the workplace in two cities, Nottingham (England) and Saint-Etienne (France), this article highlights the cultural relativity of this construct, the different rhythms of its institutionalization, and the motives that led local interest groups to emphasize or underplay its significance.