Skateboard as corporal practices and relations of identity in youth culture

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the skateboard as a corporal practice linked to youth culture which carries specific meanings according to different social groups and, at the same time, it intends to think about the possibilities of approaching skateboard as a corporal culture manifestation, perspective that escapes the educational initiatives of the schools. As well as skate consists itself in a practical full of important meanings for the practicing groups, by occupying a central position for these social actors, on the other hand it might be marginalized for others. This can be observed both from the elements that endow this practice of «positive» meanings for its appreciators or from the characteristics to which other groups ascribe «negative» meanings. The description that is going to be presented count on observations of skaters group’ practices and on one skater’ report, who has been characterized as our informant, a young student from a primary and secondary school located in Lisbon, Portugal.