Youth in a Society of Unequal: the Opportunities and Risks of Self-Realization

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of results of nationwide research «Social Inequalities: Perception of Ukrainian Society» which was carried out with the financial support of the International Renaissance Foundation by Sociological Association of Ukraine during February - September 2017. It is emphasized that the author's hypothesis on the situation of youth in a society of unequal found its confirmation in the materials of this study. In particular, it is noted that Ukrainian youth is not distinguished by high rate of social inequality compared to others age groups. Moreover, youth have certain advantages over older generations with such new types of inequality as digital inequality, «mobile» inequality etc. It is concluded that modern Ukrainian youth can't be called the most disadvantaged group, lost generation; that it has the opportunity to realize its life, in particular professional, plans due to own resources (age, education).