In the city of hope

The social dynamics of youth in the public spaces adjacent to the temple of San Hipólito

Abstract

The essay highlights the social practices of the youth that used to meet in the public squares surrounding the Temple of San Hipólito, on the occasion of the monthly liturgical celebration of San Judas Tadeo. We highlight the inhalation of "monas", the reggaeton dance, socialization and the public manifestation of devotion as the dynamics through which this type of youth, which we call religious, used to appropriate public spaces, especially in Plaza Zarco, next to the Temple. Although, more of these social practices are administratively and legally punishable, by the Law of Civic Culture of the DF, this does not justify the punishment and criminalization that was made of this youth, via the police forces, as we argue, under our working hypothesis , that the behaviors in the public space are a reflection of the position that this type of youth occupies in the social space; then, behind drug use and dances with a high sexual content in the public space, there is a series of unsatisfied needs and unguaranteed social rights for this type of youth. We conclude that the actions that restored order in the public spaces where these young people met were sterile to the extent that they did not attack the structural root of the problem of "religious youth."