Paper short abstract:

The aim of this paper is to look at three youthful life courses in a constantly changing social environment found in a small town in Guinea. The strategies to manage uncertainties thereby vary according to gender, ethnic group and social background and generate many ways of “being young” and/or “growing older”.

Paper long abstract:

For youths in a small town in Guinea, "growing older" is not so much an issue of age but much more interlinked with social becoming. By introducing into the life courses of three young people I address youth as actors who are actively reflecting the continuously changing social environment and thereby try to manage various uncertainties to "grow older". Boubacar decides to establish himself within the regional trading network instead of being a teacher. He perceives the latter as an insecure and underpaid income strategy, not consistent with his wish to marry soon. Albert in turn is hustling around, doing this and that to support his mother and sisters' livelihood. However, he dreams of continuing university and therefore shifts between being involuntary the male head of the family and being a student keen to learn. The youthful dreams of Fatoumatou include the wish to marry soon. Only recently she lost her not yet born baby from a previous relationship. Struggling with health and dishonorable pregnancy, she is afraid of not finding a husband, thus being trapped within a youthful life stage. To become again a respected woman, she interlinks her youthful identity with religious beliefs and practices.

While analyzing the three different youthful journeys, societal institutions like marriage, having children and education are crucial turning points. However, while constantly "navigating the uncertain terrain" (Vigh 2006), the three portrayed actors shift differently in-between youth and adult worlds. The strategies to manage uncertainties thereby vary according to gender, ethnic group and social background and generate many ways of "being young" and/or "growing older".