Tomorrow's Citizens: The Differing Concerns of Girls and Boys

The visions that young people hold for their personal futures and the concerns they have for their community and the wider world are indicators of the values held by today's boys and girls. By documenting such concerns we can begin to understand the kind of society young people wish for and are prepared to work towards for the next century. This article describes recent work with children aged 7,11,14 and 18. It looks at their hopes and fears for the future, the kind of future they envisage for themselves and for the world, and the action they take towards creating a better future. Its specific focus is the differences in response between boys and girls which were most evident in relation to environmental concern, political awareness, social and family relationships and the advent of new technology.