A UNIVERSITY of East London lecturer has published research into the lives of young people in Waltham Forest and other areas of east London.

Dr Anthony Gunter’s book Growing Up Bad focuses on the experiences of 13 to 21- year-olds and explores issues such as schooling, ethnicity, gender and home life.

The book contains revealing interviews which challenge stereotypes of young people.

The Criminology lecturer said: “East London is an amazing place for the majority of young people.

“I wanted to present another side to the youth in east London, one that was different from the general media portrayal of stigmatised and marginalised young black men.

“Most of them are not murderers or gun touting drug dealers.

“The book highlights east London as a creative hub for young people. The area is a real vibrant mix of people and energy, especially young people from diverse backgrounds and there’s a lot to celebrate here.

“It is the birth place of important contemporary musical forms such as drum’n’bass and Rave culture.”

The book is published alongside an ethnographic study of young people from east London neighbourhoods.

The title of Dr Gunter’s book is a play on the word ‘bad’, which is commonly used by young people as a term for being cool.

UEL describe the book as “an intimate portrait of camaraderie, music, fashion and laughing with friends, or as the young people would say, ‘catchin’ joke’”.

Fiona Fairweather, Dean of UEL’s School of Law said: “This book is an excellent commentary and is the result of a deep involvement with the local community.”

UEL is also involved in the Aim Higher project, an initiative that helps raise awareness about the importance of higher education to young people in secondary schools in Waltham Forest.

Dr Gunter, a former youth worker, is programme leader in FdA Applied Criminology.

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