Les maisons des adolescents : une vieille histoire ? Les MDA vues comme modèles de nos manières de considérer les adolescents

Abstract

Since the period of adolescence was first identified in the mid nineteenth century, its evolution has, unsurprisingly, lead to the creation of “houses” to accommodate adolescents. Today, each department of France is developing its own respective system. The diversity originates from their founders’ unique perspective and the ideas of how adolescents should be treated. The stake of these houses relies on putting them back into perspective by looking at the history of adolescence and its precursors. In fact, by studying, on the one hand, the confluence of our representations regarding the period of adolescence and, on the other hand, the evolution of our institutions, it is possible to report issues with the adolescent houses of today and deduce what they will be like tomorrow.