IGNOU FREE BPCG-172 Youth, Gender and Identity Solved Guess Paper 2025
Q1. Explain the concept of youth, its characteristics, and its relevance in contemporary society.
Youth represents a transitional phase between childhood and adulthood, marked by rapid physical, psychological, emotional, and social changes. It is a period where individuals begin developing their identity, aspirations, values, and worldviews. Youth is typically associated with energy, creativity, idealism, and a desire for independence. The age range of youth varies across cultures, but the United Nations defines youth as individuals between 15 and 24 years of age. However, in many societies—including India—the transition to adulthood may extend into the early 30s due to educational, economic, and cultural factors.
Youth is characterized by several features: curiosity, experimentation, risk-taking behavior, emotional intensity, identity exploration, and increasing social awareness. This stage is crucial because it lays the foundation for personality development, career choices, relationships, and civic engagement. Youth is also a critical period for cognitive development, as individuals at this age develop analytical thinking, decision-making ability, and a sense of autonomy.
In contemporary society, the relevance of youth has increased significantly. Young people constitute a large portion of the global population, and in countries like India—where nearly 40% of the population is below 35—they represent a demographic dividend. This means the youth population has the potential to contribute to economic growth, technological innovation, and social transformation. Youth are often at the forefront of movements related to climate change, gender equality, social justice, and digital activism. Their awareness and participation influence public policies and shape national discourse.
At the same time, youth face challenges such as unemployment, mental health issues, peer pressure, substance abuse, digital addiction, and identity confusion. They struggle to balance traditional expectations with modern aspirations. Social media has amplified both opportunities and risks—offering platforms for creativity and self-expression but also exposing youth to cyberbullying, unrealistic standards, and online exploitation.
Thus, understanding youth is crucial for educators, policymakers, parents, and society as a whole. Youth are both the present and the future, and their development, well-being, and empowerment determine the progress of nations.
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Q2. Discuss the concept of identity formation in youth with reference to Erikson’s theory and social influences.
Identity formation is a central developmental task of youth. It refers to the process through which young individuals develop a sense of who they are, what they value, and where they want to go in life. Identity shapes personality, self-esteem, relationships, and career decisions. Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory, particularly the stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion, provides a foundational explanation for how identity develops during adolescence.
According to Erikson, adolescence is a period of exploration, experimentation, and questioning. Youth try different roles, beliefs, and lifestyles to understand their strengths and weaknesses. If they successfully integrate their experiences, they achieve a stable identity; if not, they experience role confusion, indecision, and instability. Erikson believed that both personal exploration and social support are essential for identity formation.
Social influences also play an important role. Family is the first and most impactful social environment. Parents’ expectations, values, and communication patterns shape self-concept. Supportive families help youth develop confidence, whereas authoritarian or neglectful families may hinder identity development. Peer groups provide emotional support and influence interests, fashion, hobbies, career choices, and moral values. During adolescence, peer acceptance becomes extremely important because youth seek belonging and recognition.
School and educational institutions also shape identity by providing opportunities for academic achievement, leadership, sports, and creativity. Teachers, mentors, and counselors help youth discover their potential and develop a sense of purpose. Media and technology further influence identity by exposing youth to global cultures, lifestyles, information, and social norms. Social media platforms often lead youth to compare themselves with idealized images, which may create unrealistic expectations and identity confusion.
Cultural and societal norms—religion, gender roles, traditions, and economic conditions—also determine identity. In collectivist societies like India, identity is strongly linked to family roles, social obligations, and community expectations. In contrast, Western societies emphasize individualism and personal choice.
Identity formation is a continuous process, not limited to adolescence. It evolves over time as individuals encounter new experiences and responsibilities. Successful identity formation leads to autonomy, emotional stability, strong decision-making skills, and meaningful relationships.
Thus, identity in youth is shaped by both internal exploration and external influences. A supportive environment helps youth develop a positive and coherent sense of self.
Q3. Explain how gender shapes identity. Discuss gender socialization, stereotypes, and their impact on youth.
Gender plays a crucial role in shaping identity because it influences how individuals perceive themselves and how society expects them to behave. Gender identity refers to one’s internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither. This is different from biological sex. Gender identity is shaped through gender socialization, which begins from birth and continues throughout life.
Gender socialization refers to the process by which individuals learn cultural norms, behaviors, and expectations associated with being male or female. Families play the first role in gender socialization—boys may be encouraged to be strong, assertive, and independent, whereas girls may be encouraged to be caring, polite, and supportive. Toys, clothing, and even household responsibilities are often gendered.
Schools reinforce gender norms through teacher expectations, subject choices, and school activities. Boys may be encouraged toward science and sports, while girls may be directed toward arts, caregiving, and domestic roles. Media also contributes significantly—television, films, advertisements, and social media portray idealized images of masculinity and femininity, which influence youth perceptions.
Gender stereotypes are oversimplified and generalized beliefs about how men and women should behave. For example:
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Men are strong, unemotional, and dominant.
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Women are emotional, gentle, and nurturing.
These stereotypes restrict personal freedom and limit opportunities for both genders. For youth, such stereotypes may create pressure to conform, leading to stress, identity confusion, and low self-esteem. Boys may feel discouraged from expressing emotions or pursuing artistic fields, while girls may hesitate to choose careers in science or leadership roles.
Gender identity becomes particularly complex during adolescence as youth explore their sexuality, relationships, and self-expression. LGBTQ+ youth may experience discrimination, bullying, or rejection, which negatively impacts mental health.
Breaking gender stereotypes is important for creating an inclusive society. Encouraging gender-neutral upbringing, equal educational opportunities, and challenging media stereotypes helps youth develop authentic identities. Awareness programs, sensitization workshops, and supportive families play a vital role in helping youth express their identity freely.
Thus, gender significantly shapes identity by influencing expectations, behavior, self-esteem, and opportunities. A gender-equitable environment allows youth to explore their full potential without limitations.
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Q4. Discuss major challenges faced by youth in relation to gender, identity, mental health, and social pressures.
Youth today face multiple challenges as they navigate identity formation, social expectations, and gender norms. One major challenge is identity confusion, which arises when youth struggle to understand who they are, what they value, and what career or lifestyle they want. Rapid social change, academic pressure, and family expectations contribute to this confusion.
Another major challenge is gender discrimination and inequality. Girls often face restrictions in education, mobility, career choices, and personal freedom. Boys face pressure to conform to masculinity norms, discouraging emotional expression. LGBTQ+ youth face stigma, bullying, and exclusion, which severely impact their psychological well-being.
Mental health issues are increasingly common among youth. Anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts are rising due to academic pressure, competition, lack of employment opportunities, and social comparison on social media. Many youth hesitate to seek help due to stigma associated with mental illness.
Peer pressure is another major challenge. Youth may engage in risky behaviors—substance use, unsafe relationships, aggression—to gain acceptance from peers. Social media intensifies this pressure by creating unrealistic standards of success, beauty, and lifestyle.
Youth also face career-related stress. Uncertainty about the future, unemployment, skill mismatch, and economic instability create frustration and self-doubt. In many cultures, parental pressure to choose specific careers leads to conflict.
Gender-based violence, harassment, body shaming, and cyberbullying further complicate the youth experience. Girls and LGBTQ+ youth are particularly vulnerable to online abuse and harassment.
Cultural conflicts arise when youth try to balance traditional values with modern aspirations. This creates tension within families and communities.
Addressing these challenges requires multi-level efforts—awareness campaigns, inclusive education, mental health support systems, gender sensitization, family counseling, and safe digital environments. Schools and colleges must create supportive ecosystems where youth can express themselves freely.
Thus, the challenges faced by youth today are complex and interconnected, requiring collective action from families, institutions, and society
Q5. Discuss the role of family, peers, and media in shaping youth identity.
Youth identity is shaped through multiple social influences, among which family, peers, and media play the most significant roles. Family is the first and most influential environment. From childhood to adolescence, young people observe, imitate, and internalize family values, traditions, and expectations. Parenting style greatly affects identity formation. Supportive and democratic families encourage autonomy and self-confidence, enabling youth to explore interests freely. In contrast, authoritarian or restrictive families may limit identity development, leading to confusion, fear of failure, or rebellion. Family also influences career choices, gender roles, moral values, and cultural identity. For example, a family that values education may encourage intellectual pursuits, whereas a family inclined toward business may shape entrepreneurial identity.
Peers play a crucial role during adolescence because young people seek belonging, acceptance, and validation outside the family. Peer groups influence behaviour, fashion, language, attitudes, and decision-making. Positive peer relationships foster cooperation, confidence, and emotional support. However, peer pressure may lead to risky behaviours such as substance use, aggression, unsafe relationships, or academic negligence. Adolescents often modify their identity to fit in with their peer group, which can either help build self-esteem or create internal conflict. Peers also provide a space to explore gender identity, sexual orientation, and personal preferences.
Media, including television, films, advertisements, gaming, and especially social media, has become a major identity-shaping force. Media exposes youth to diverse lifestyles, role models, beauty standards, ideologies, and global cultures. Social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok create spaces for self-expression but also promote comparison, unrealistic expectations, and pressure to conform. Many youth curate online identities that may differ from their real selves, leading to identity fragmentation. Influencers, celebrities, and digital trends shape aspirations, career interests, consumption patterns, and even political opinions.
The combined influence of family, peers, and media can strengthen or weaken identity. When these influences contradict each other—for example, traditional family values vs. modern peer norms—youth may experience confusion or stress. Yet, when these influences offer support and acceptance, youth are more likely to develop a stable and positive identity.
Thus, youth identity is a social product that evolves through ongoing negotiation between personal experiences and external influences.
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Q6. Explain the concept of gender identity and discuss the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in society.
Gender identity refers to an individual’s deeply felt sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere along the gender spectrum. It is an internal experience and may or may not align with one’s biological sex. For most people, gender identity develops naturally through cultural expectations, personal experiences, and emotional awareness. However, for LGBTQ+ youth—particularly transgender and non-binary individuals—gender identity may differ from assigned gender at birth, leading to complex emotional and social experiences.
LGBTQ+ youth often face discrimination, stigma, rejection, and misunderstanding in families, schools, and society. In many cultures, discussing gender diversity remains taboo, which causes youth to hide their true identity. Lack of acceptance from family can result in emotional trauma, depression, or homelessness. Schools may be unsafe environments due to bullying, name-calling, harassment, or exclusion. Teachers may be untrained in handling gender-diverse students, creating additional barriers.
Social stigma also affects mental health. LGBTQ+ youth show higher rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance use—not because of their identity but because of discrimination and social rejection. Society’s rigid gender norms force them to conform to unrealistic expectations.
Despite challenges, positive developments exist. Support groups, online communities, gender-inclusive policies, and increasing awareness about LGBTQ+ rights have empowered many youth. Legal recognition of gender identities, anti-discrimination laws, and LGBTQ+ counselling services offer social and emotional support. Affirming environments—schools with gender-neutral bathrooms, inclusive curricula, and trained counselors—help LGBTQ+ youth build confidence and self-worth.
Thus, gender identity is a fundamental part of selfhood, and creating a respectful, inclusive society allows LGBTQ+ youth to thrive and express themselves authentically.
Q7. Analyse how education shapes youth aspirations, identity, and gender roles.
Education plays a transformative role in shaping youth identity, aspirations, and perceptions of gender. Schools and colleges are social environments where youth interact with teachers, peers, and institutional norms. These interactions influence self-concept, values, goals, and worldviews.
Education shapes aspirations by providing opportunities for learning, skill development, and personal growth. Exposure to different subjects helps youth discover talents and career interests. Teachers act as role models, reinforcing self-belief and ambition. Access to higher education expands aspirations, enabling youth to aim for professional careers. Conversely, lack of quality education limits opportunities and reinforces socio-economic inequalities.
Education shapes identity by fostering critical thinking, self-reflection, and social awareness. Youth develop a sense of belonging through participation in academic, cultural, and extracurricular activities. Leadership roles, debates, sports, and community service help form a positive identity. Education also exposes youth to diversity, teaching respect for different cultures, religions, and perspectives.
Education also influences gender roles. Traditionally, schools reinforced stereotypes—boys in science and sports, girls in arts and caregiving roles. Textbooks often portrayed men as leaders and women as caretakers. Such biases limit choices and expectations. However, gender-sensitive education challenges stereotypes, promotes equality, and encourages youth to pursue interests beyond traditional boundaries. Girls are increasingly entering STEM fields, and boys are becoming more open to emotional expression and non-traditional careers.
Teachers play a key role by treating boys and girls equally, discouraging sexist remarks, and creating safe learning environments. Gender-inclusive curricula encourage critical thinking about social norms and teach youth to question discrimination.
Thus, education has the power to shape progressive identities and promote gender equality. It prepares youth for active citizenship, career growth, and personal fulfillment.
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Q8. Discuss the psychological challenges faced by youth in the digital age (social media, cyberbullying, addiction, comparison).
The digital age has transformed youth lifestyles, communication, and identity formation. While technology offers opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection, it also presents psychological challenges. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok influence self-esteem by encouraging comparison with idealized images. Youth often feel pressure to present a perfect online version of themselves, leading to anxiety, insecurity, and dissatisfaction.
Cyberbullying is a major problem. Anonymous online spaces allow harassment, threats, and humiliation. Victims may experience depression, fear, isolation, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying occurs 24/7 and can reach large audiences instantly.
Digital addiction is another challenge. Excessive screen time disrupts sleep, reduces academic performance, and affects physical health. Youth become dependent on likes, notifications, and online validation, reinforcing addictive behaviour. Gaming addiction can lead to aggression, social withdrawal, and impaired decision-making.
Social media also fosters FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), making youth feel excluded or inadequate. Overexposure to violent or sexual content may distort perceptions of reality. Online relationships may replace real-world social skills, causing loneliness and emotional imbalance.
Youth also face privacy risks, identity theft, and exposure to harmful communities that promote self-harm or hate ideologies.
To manage these challenges, digital literacy programs, counselling support, healthy screen-time habits, and parental guidance are essential. Youth must learn critical thinking, emotional regulation, and responsible online behaviour.
Thus, while digital technology is empowering, it has psychological risks that require awareness, support, and balanced usage.
Q9. Explain intersectionality and its relevance in understanding youth, gender, and identity.
Intersectionality is a framework that explains how multiple social identities—such as gender, caste, race, class, religion, sexuality, and disability—interact to influence an individual’s experiences, opportunities, and challenges. Coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality reveals that discrimination is not experienced in isolation but through overlapping identities.
For youth, intersectionality is essential to understanding identity formation. A young woman from a marginalized caste may experience different challenges compared to a young woman from a privileged background. Similarly, LGBTQ+ youth who also belong to economically disadvantaged families face compounded discrimination.
Gender identity intersects with cultural norms, religion, and social expectations. For instance, girls in patriarchal societies often face limited mobility, early marriage pressure, and educational barriers. Boys may experience pressure to be aggressive, unemotional, or financially successful.
Intersectionality helps explain how youth navigate identity. A Muslim girl, a Dalit boy, a disabled youth, or a queer youth all face different forms of stigma. Intersectional lenses reveal inequalities in education, employment, health access, and social representation.
Understanding intersectionality allows policymakers, educators, and communities to design more inclusive and sensitive programs. It promotes empathy, reduces bias, and supports equitable opportunities for diverse groups.
Thus, intersectionality is crucial for examining the complex realities of youth identity in a diverse society like India
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Q10. Discuss strategies for empowering youth and promoting gender equality in society.
Empowering youth and promoting gender equality are essential for creating a progressive and inclusive society. Youth empowerment involves providing education, opportunities, skills, and a supportive environment. Quality education enhances critical thinking, confidence, and career readiness. Skill development programs in technology, entrepreneurship, communication, and leadership enable youth to participate actively in economic growth.
Employment opportunities and career counselling reduce frustration and help youth transition into adulthood. Mental health support, counselling centers, and awareness programs help youth manage stress and emotional challenges. Encouraging participation in sports, cultural activities, and community service builds confidence and leadership skills.
To promote gender equality, society must challenge stereotypes and discriminatory norms. Gender-sensitive education teaches respect, equality, and consent. Schools should include inclusive curricula, equal opportunities in subjects and sports, and strict policies against harassment. Families play a crucial role by supporting girls’ education, sharing household responsibilities, and encouraging emotional openness in boys.
Legal frameworks that protect women and LGBTQ+ individuals must be strengthened. Gender-sensitive workplaces ensure equal pay, maternity-paternity leave, and safe environments. Media should portray balanced gender roles and avoid stereotypes.
Community awareness programs addressing gender-based violence, early marriage, and discrimination are essential. Supporting women’s self-help groups, female entrepreneurs, and youth-led gender equality movements can bring large-scale social change.
Empowering youth and promoting gender equality together create a society where individuals can express themselves freely, pursue their aspirations, and contribute positively. It strengthens democracy, economic development, and social justice.
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