Abstract

In Youth Studies, the concept of security has been used to study how young people can cope in a changing society and find a safe space at home, at school, and in other learning environments. This article analyses previous studies of security with a focus on its different meanings, while it also takes a selective look at the concepts of belonging and safe space. The most prominent feature of the discussion around youth has been the dichotomy in characterizing young people as either victims or risks. This article challenges this dichotomy and proposes an understanding of security as a context-related experience. The wide-ranging analysis across different concepts and approaches brings a range of understandings of security as a concept whilst also considering young people’s agency.