Life positions of Tuvan youth: variability of sociocultural subjectivity

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of the life positions of Tuvan students in the areas of kinship and legal relations. The theoretical and methodological foundations of the study consisted of the provisions of the concept of self-regulation of youth life activity and the data of Tuvan studies, that determine the unique meaning of the cultural space of Tuvan youth. For the empirical basis of the study materials from focus groups with ethnic Tuvan students (2022) were used. The results of the analysis confirmed the high importance of family ties for the majority of Tuvan informants. Based on the semantic basis of the attitude of young Tuvans to the phenomenon of employment of “their kin”, traditional, modern and hybrid life positions are identified. The authors emphasise the ambiguity of hybrid life positions, that promote conflicting ideas such as professionalism as a criterion for selecting candidates for a vacancy and the preference of relatives in a simulated situation of selecting applicants for a position, specific expectations of support from relatives. Latent inconsistency manifests itself in the form of idealisation of potential interaction with relatives on employment issues. It is assumed that this is a not entirely conscious attempt by young people to hide deep-seated predispositions to use the “family ties” resource behind a demonstration of their commitment to modern requirements for the employment procedure and suitability for the position. In relation to the practices of mutual assistance of relatives, in addition to the above-mentioned types, a position is highlighted, expressed in the assumption of living at the expense of a rich, successful relative, based on the deviant meanings of dependency and consumerism. It was revealed that the life positions of Tuvan youth in the field of law reflect all-Russian trends. The positions of law-abiding youth are based on instrumental meanings (ensuring order, security) and the inevitability of punishment, while positions of lawless youth are based on deviant meanings, the essence of which is manifested in disrespect for the law, and legal infantilism. Positioning the state as a dishonest partner is used to justify non-compliance with legal norms in interaction with it. Legal infantilism and legal ignorance of some Tuvan students, as well as some other Russian students, liberalisation of consciousness regarding the legal behaviour of other people that goes beyond the social norm, update not only the institutional regulation of legal education and upbringing of youth and children, but also a systematic change in reality in the field of ensuring the rule of law. In relation to the legal behaviour of other people, active (interested) and passive (indifferent) life positions are identified.