Currently I am reading Testament of Youth by Vera Brittan. In which she retells her experiences of World War I by re-examining her diary and correspondence 15 years later. The letters sent back and forth between Brittan and her romantic interest, Roland, are a prime example of the view point of the “youth” generation involved in the war.
Brittan states, “The War, we decided came hardest of all upon us who were young. The middle-aged and the old had known their period of joy, whereas upon us catastrophe had descended just in time to deprive us of that youthful happiness to which we had believed ourselves entitled” (129)
This sentiment is obviously not particular to the characters in the book, nor to the time in history. The presence of war in a society acts as a fast forward button on the lives and of the Youth. This is because it brings the idea of one’s mortality to the forefront of society’s mind. When a generation is constantly faced with the death of its members, en mass, it puts life into perspective and the “follies of youth” generally fall by the wayside. In the United States, in present days and in days of times past, the younger generation has been the group to fight. However, in places around the world those involved in combat are not only considered youthful, they are children.
In the article “Youth at War: Dealing with a Generation of Young Soldiers”, the IRIN describes the difficulties that adolescents in different areas of Africa and Asia have transitioning from child soldiers to adults.
“The breakdown of normal social structures prevents young people from making the natural transition to adulthood with its accompanying identities. In times of conflict and poverty, young people are attracted to the military as it offers them an identity they are otherwise deprived of. Caught between childhood and adulthood, youths can be drawn into armed groups as it gives them a fast-track to adulthood.
Adolescence and youth are a critical stage in a person’s development. It is a time of rapid transformation which can see young people taking risks as they try on their new roles and responsibilities. This period is intensified during times of conflict when the social norms and means of support are removed, stopping young people from making a normal evolution to becoming an adult.”
The way that Vera Brittian feels about the pressures of war falling on the shoulders of youth is universal. Not only do the younger members of the generation have to bear the brunt of the combat, they must also internalize all that the experience during the war and deal with that through the rest of their lives. Therefore, while any type of war or violence plays a role in the lives multiple generations and populations, it is the youth that is most greatly effected.
