UNews - James Penner

Bibby study says aboriginal teens are hopeful

trevor.kenney — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:28:19 +0000

A major new and unprecedented survey of teenage aboriginals across the country has found that the vast majority are dreaming big when it comes to their futures. Yet, despite their hopes and aspirations, large numbers already suspect that those dreams may not be realized.

The findings are part of a comprehensive national survey of more than 5,500 high school students carried out by Dr. Reginald Bibby, a sociology professor and researcher at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The survey, completed in early 2009, included a special subsample study of some 500 aboriginals attending band-run schools that was coordinated by Terri-Lynn Fox, a PhD student at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and a member of the Kainai community on the Blood Reserve. James Penner was the third member of the research team.

Their report, entitled, Canada's Emerging Aboriginal Millennials, looks at the values, interests, concerns, beliefs and aspirations of aboriginals, comparing them with Canadian young people more generally.

Fox says that she hopes the report, "will be a foundational document to build upon," since it reveals "ideas and aspirations, tribulations and triumphs that are integral to the health and well-being of who they are now and who they will become."

The report calls for a concerted national effort to bridge aboriginal dreams and realities.

Following are some of the highlights.

• Aboriginal youth want the same things from life as everyone else. Their top values are family life, friendship, freedom and being loved. Their top goals: getting a good education and being successful.

• The new technologies and the Internet specifically are having a revolutionary impact on aboriginals living on reserves, providing a bridge to the rest of Canada and the globe.

• Aboriginal teens are very positive about Canada: 70 per cent say Canada is important to them, well above the 43 per cent level for the country as a whole.However, they are far more likely than others to feel there are a number of problem areas that require top priority attention.

Among the issues: child abuse, suicide, violence against women, discrimination, drug abuse, AIDS and youth gangs. Such concerns about these problems lead only 45 per cent to feel they would choose to live in Canada, below the 54 per cent level for all Canadian teenagers.

• Teens who live on reserves are even more inclined than other teens to feel moral decisions lie with the individual, and are highly situational when it comes to things like sexual behaviour and family and parental arrangements. Those attending off-reserve schools and frequently removed from reserve and family ties exhibit considerable moral and lifestyle autonomy.

• Young aboriginals exhibit higher levels of supernatural belief and a greater inclination to value spirituality than teenagers as a whole. While most value aboriginal spirituality, more than 50 per cent who live on reserves continue to identify with Christianity.

• While aboriginal youth face many of the same personal concerns as other teens, for many life is particularly difficult. Money, rapid change, the lack of social support, discrimination and fear for one's safety are problems that are particularly acute. Drug use and problems with the law further lower the quality of life for a disproportionately high number.

• Despite these hurdles, young aboriginals exhibit the potential for resilience, not only in retaining positive self-images during their teens years, but in holding hopes for a better future.

They, like other Canadian young people, seem to have "a hope chip" imbedded. They have high hopes when it comes to education, careers, owning their own homes, being more financially comfortable than their parents, having good and lasting relationships, having children and being involved in their communities. All this is true whether they expect to eventually live on or off reserves.

For more on Bibby's research and his findings on Canadian teens, check out this story.

Trend-tracking in action

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:30:09 +0000

Dr. Reg Bibby knows a thing or two about today's teens.

You may not like their asymmetrical hairdos, nose piercings or ironic t-shirts, but today's teenagers aren't turning Canadian culture on its head, as per the prevailing stereotype. On many levels, today's youth are actually looking better than previous generations, says sociologist and trend-tracker Dr. Reginald Bibby.

The notion of teenagers as threats to the well-being of Canadian society is a prejudicial stereotype that unfairly generalizes all teens. "There seems to be such a pervasive mindset that teens are simply not that likable and lovable," says Bibby.

In reality, quite the opposite is true, according to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researcher who has been monitoring the attitudes and habits of Canadian teens and adults for three decades. Today's youth are solid citizens and are adjusting well to the new Canada, Bibby reports in his latest book, The Emerging Millennials: How Canada's Newest Generation is Responding to Change and Choice.

Working on Project Teen Canada, a series of national surveys that have examined Canadian teenagers' behaviour and values since 1984, Bibby and Associate Director James Penner completed the most recent installment in 2008. The survey of 5,500 teenagers across the country shows that the millennials are doing well. They're generous and polite. They report the most positive relationships with parents in three decades. The prevalence of vices like smoking, drinking and marijuana use have declined, as have depression, suicide and bullying.

Also on the decline is young people's interest in professional sports, including the beloved National Hockey League (NHL). Only about 50 per cent of young men and 20 per cent of young women follow the NHL. According to Bibby, their lack of interest demonstrates the acceleration of choices, but for an allegedly hockey-crazed country, it's a rather startling discovery that caught the attention of media outlets ranging from the National Post through Canada AM to the New York Times.

All in all, the baby boomer generation's "social experiment" of having both parents employed outside the home has known increasing success as older boomers and post-boomers have improved on how they balance careers and family life.

To quote a famous baby boomer lyric: the kids are all right.

While the large majority has been receptive to Bibby's overall good-news findings, not everyone is convinced. Bibby has found that invariably there are those who are down on teenagers, people who "don't want to be confused by the facts."

But such responses don't phase him. Dismantling tired stereotypes is important to the researcher who has explored social trends since coming to the U of L in 1975. Bibby's areas of myth-breaking have included attributing much teen-adult conflict to adults; questioning the extent to which people are abandoning religion; the importance of not only praising but tapping into our cultural diversity; documenting the limited growth of interest in the National Football League and National Basketball Association and the ongoing interest in the Canadian Football League; and making his most recent case for the elevation of the quality of teenage life in Canada.

Bibby's research philosophy has always been that it doesn't make sense to study trends abstractly; rather, it's essential to question Canadians directly.
"In my mind, if one wants to understand what people are thinking, there's no substitute for asking them," he says. "Therefore, a survey that is carried out well is simply a good conversation with people. It results in learning what Canadians are thinking – rather than telling them."

Disseminating the research is also an important aspect of Bibby's work. Over the years, he's consciously shared and explained his findings with Canadians through his books, media coverage and public presentations across the country.

His commitment to public awareness has not gone unnoticed. This fall, Bibby will receive the 2009 Distinguished Academic Award from the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations (CAFA), an award that recognizes the success of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ bringing their scholarly work to the broader community.

Not surprisingly, this isn't his first accolade. Bibby holds a U of L Board of Governors Research Chair in Sociology, has an honorary doctoral degree from Laurentian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and in 2006 was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his research contributions to the country.

In the aftermath of the 2008 survey, the prolific researcher plans to take a breather from his survey-research. "I want to sit on a rock in some beautiful place and write poetry," he jokes. Instead of focusing on data collection, Bibby plans to spend more time analyzing the data he has accumulated and turn his attention to a new book on religion in Canada – Beyond the Gods and Back.

And, of course, he'll continue to hold up that mirror to Canadians.

"I really have been fortunate not only to do research but also to teach and make presentations that allow me to see to what extent people recognize themselves in the findings. It has made the research come alive."

Bibby is the author of 12 best-selling books with total sales of close to 150,000 copies. His research has received extensive media coverage and has been seen as the feature story on the cover of Maclean's on several occasions.

Trend-tracking in action

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:23:03 +0000

To quote a famous baby boomer lyric: the kids are all right.

Bibby's research philosophy has always been that it doesn't make sense to study trends abstractly; rather, it's essential to question Canadians directly.

"In my mind, if one wants to understand what people are thinking, there's no substitute for asking them," he says. "Therefore, a survey that is carried out well is simply a good conversation with people. It results in learning what Canadians are thinking – rather than telling them."

And, of course, he'll continue to hold up that mirror to Canadians.

UNews - James Penner

Bibby study says aboriginal teens are hopeful

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