Sea of Good Intentions

In chapter six we juxtapose the work of compassionate adults against the harsh “zero-tolerance” policy environment and highlight the positive impacts of caring adults on youth at critical times in adolescence. We begin with a brief review of the rise of “zero-tolerance” policies and how they took shape nationally and in Hawai‘i. We hear the stories of June and Auggie, who experienced the punitive sting of the juvenile justice system as teens under this policy environment. We contrast that with examples of school and court professionals who made a marked difference in the lives of youth and explore the meaning and importance of discretionary power using an “ethic of care.”

Fighting for Her Honor

We take up the subject of peer and school-based culture for teens in chapter four, where we outline at the femininity norms confronting female teens. In this chapter we note that notions of femininity were complicated and sometimes contradictory. In this way, girls’ violence is viewed against the backdrop of multiple constraints and contradictions.

“Us Girls Get the Second Half”

Chapter three examines girls’ early childhood experiences in families and at school, and we highlight the pressures that girls uniquely experienced while growing up. We look at how girls’ family responsibilities, dress, demeanor, and their status in families and at school were constrained by numerous gender inequalities – a set of conditions that the girls thought of as inherently unfair and “unjust.” Considering these pressures, some girls spoke and struck out against those who harassed and targeted them, sometimes violently.

Literature Review and Background

The youth’s narratives can add depth to many literatures, and chapter one reviews some of the core assumptions within the fields of youth violence, critical youth studies, and punishment in the juvenile justice system and schools. Chapter one also includes a brief review of the colonial history of Hawai‘i.

Introduction

Angel’s fights were legendary.1 Six feet tall at sixteen, she was a formidable opponent who could smack down anyone who challenged her. Few attempted to directly confront Angel. Instead, her adversaries usually yelled derogatory remarks from across the hallways and yards at school, leading her to call back, “Oh, shut your ass up. You know I can beat your ass on the spot!” If Angel did catch up with a girl who insulted her, a fight was sure to ensue. Along with the resulting bloodied noses, torn clothing, and bruised bodies, Angel’s opponents would be ridiculed for attempting, but failing, to bring her down. Only a “stupid bitch” would try to fight with Angel....

Theoretical Conclusions

Chapter eight showcases our theoretical interpretations of our findings reviewed in chapters three through seven. Featuring racial and gender inequalities, which we call the system of colonial patriarchy, we fill gaps in youth violence perspectives, interlocking inequalities perspectives of youth, and assumptions within the field of critical youth studies. We offer a theory of colonial patriarchy to explain youth violence, and we suggest how a colonial patriarchy lens can expand theories of punishment in the U.S.

Youth Prepare for Adulthood

Where we introduced this book with Angel’s and Benny’s narratives, we complete the adolescent journey for these teens and others in chapter seven. In this chapter, we examine the different ways that youth prepared for young adulthood. Considering that several teens in this study grew up with chaotic circumstances -- some facing homelessness, multiple foster home placements, and incarceration as teens -- we look at whether supportive and capable adults can intervene in teens’ lives to help them as they prepare for adulthood. Just as gender shaped girls’ and boys’ childhood and teen experiences, transitions out of adolescence differed by gender as the pressures, constraints, and opportunities ranged for girls and boys.

Boys’ Fights and the Jacked-Up System

In chapter five we explain boys’ perspectives of violence, as we explore the boys’ critical consciousness of larger power arrangements, with racial hierarchies being a primary lens through which boys saw the world. Gender expectations were an important backdrop in boys’ narratives as well, and in this chapter we look at how historic acts of injustice in colonial lands lived on in the collective memories of youth. Indeed, some boys summarized these past and present injustices succinctly as the “jacked up” U.S. system. As males, boys sensed that they had agency and strength, and they used these resources to resist or manipulate what they saw as the unjust systems and stereotypes set against them.

Compassionate and Constructive Policy and Practice

In chapter nine we conclude the book with an exploration of compassionate policy reforms and emancipatory practices within the rising tide of juvenile justice reform nationally and in Hawai‘i. We begin with a story of a family loss to highlight the failures of the existing justice system to bring resolution and restore peace in the face of violence. We press for better alternatives and describe a practice of healing and restoration traditional to Native Hawaiians called Ho‘oponopono in work among youth and families.

The Caring Adult Role and Youth Research

In chapter two, we review our research methods and explain the choices we made considering that the juveniles in this study were a vulnerable population. While we wanted to gain an intimate knowledge of teens’ worldviews and experiences, we did not want to compromise their safety, and this tension determined our roles as we interacted with and conducted research with the teens.