French high school protests: 'Young people are not fooled by the discrimination and contempt that society directs at them'
- Posted on October 8, 2026
- By Le Monde
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Laelia Benoit, a prominent French sociologist and child psychiatrist, examines the growing wave of high school student demonstrations across France through the critical framework of 'childism'—a concept describing systematic age-based prejudices against young people. Her analysis reveals how adolescents increasingly recognize and reject the institutional dismissal and social marginalization they face, challenging deeply rooted stereotypes about youth voice and political engagement in contemporary society.
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French high school protests: 'Young people are not fooled by the discrimination and contempt that society directs at them'
Sociologist and child psychiatrist Laelia Benoit analyzes the discourse surrounding high school student protests through the lens of 'childism,' a term that refers to the set of prejudices against minors based on their age, which she introduced to France.
