Student movement continues despite holidays

Despite school holidays, the student movement remains active, and as upcoming demonstrations approach, some parents are worried. The movement has been ongoing, and the debates about how to respond have continued since its start.

Parents torn between support and concern

As the demonstrations scheduled for October 31 or November 4 approach, many parents are torn between the desire to let their children gain independence and the reluctance to let them join the movement. A mother of a student, interviewed by Huffpost, expresses her ambivalence, stating she is proud of her child’s commitment but fears police interventions.

Fears of conflict and misunderstanding

Alongside the fear of potential police violence, some parents may also fear the ideas linked to the student movements, especially when they are in opposition to theirs. This can unconsciously nurture the fear of a fracture in the relationship and the fear of no longer understanding each other or finding areas of agreement.

Studies show disagreement doesn’t have to break relationships

Science shows that despite disagreements, it is possible to maintain the relationship. A 2022 study published in the journal Young found that disagreement can become a power struggle within the family when the parent tries to control which opinion can be expressed. However, young people interviewed described the possibility of expressing disagreement while maintaining a respectful relationship as contributing to their autonomy and family relationships.

Respect and acceptance help in political conflicts

A 2020 study by researchers from the University of Hong Kong revealed that in families experiencing political conflicts, strategies such as respecting the other, accepting differences, and preserving the family bond were more useful for maintaining or restoring the parent-adolescent relationship than attempts to convince or change the other’s political opinion.

Participation in movements shapes identity

Outside of the parent-adolescent relationship, the question of letting their child participate in blockades and demonstrations plays a major role in the adolescent’s identity construction. Research on nearly 5,000 adolescents aged 11 to 15 and their relationship to the Black Lives Matter movement showed that adolescent civic engagement can be an identity exploration space, developing "social-emotional" skills and the feeling of being able to act.

Political actions as learning experiences

Another study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence reveals that participating in demonstrations, boycotts, and petitions can constitute a democratic learning experience and strengthen the impression of being able to act.