Agency, place, scale: representations of inner-city youth identities

Geographers are in a special position to comment on the role of neighbourhood representations in the marginalisation of urban minorities. This paper examines the impact of representations of place on the production of inner‐city youth identities. It argues that the spatial scale of representation is a crucial element in the production of marginal identity, and investigates whether switching scale is a viable option for escaping this identity. Linking the concepts of structure and agency to the notions of ideology and identity, it applies a theoretical argument to empirical contexts of representation and identity formation. Results from semi‐structured interviews with local youths and institutional administrators in an inner‐city neighbourhood of San Antonio, Texas, illustrate how place‐ and scale‐particular ideologies intervene in processes of youth identity formation. While overlying scales of place enables the social exclusion of youths, jumping scales does not empower individuals.