What is a Teenager?
Webster dictionary defines teenagers as simply being "between 13 and 19 years old". However, there is much more to that. A teenager is arguably the most complex and misjudged character in society today. Teenagers are viewed as curious, disrespectful, rebellious, and superficial individuals who desire independence, face corruption, lack direction, realize truth, search for identity, and desire to find love. Teenagers are the explorers of society and are widely known for their mistakes and strong personalities. Recently, a negative view has been forced onto teenagers due to a large increase in the use of drugs, intake of alcohol, and participation in sexual activity among people of the age group. This negative view on all teenagers is not only inaccurate, but also very degrading and insulting. Because society views teenagers as dangerous troublemakers, it is common that people strongly judge teens and act with prejudice against all individuals of this age group. People who follow the views of society need to realize and understand that the teenagers of today are the next generation of leaders, doctors, scientists, artists, engineers, musicians, actors, and more. Rather than stereotyping teenagers, adults and figures of society should promote a positive view of youths, or attempt to change what they believe is negative.
When did the teenage group form?
The classification of teenagers began in the 1920s, when education and social reforms created this new adult-child hybrid group. Once children began to spend more and more time in school and prolonged gaining the responsibilities of adults, teenagers began to form, for they were not granted the independence and power of an adult but were too mature to be treated as children. Along with this, the social norm of marrying at the age of fifteen and sixteen evolved, creating a larger age gap between the dependent life of a child and the independent life of an adult.
The automobile had a great part in creating the teenage group. With this new ability to control their own form of travel, teens enjoyed more freedom from parental supervision. Courtship evolved into dating, and teenagers were given a new privacy that exploded into more risky and sexual behavior among teenagers. The availability of the automobile also lead to a new high school experience for youths. Buses could now transport children away from their isolated home towns to larger areas. This created larger classrooms and a larger concentration of teenagers, which then led to the evolution of the teenage traits. The distinction between adults and children was most obvious in the behaviors teenagers exemplified in these schools, for once surrounded by other teenagers, these traits became prominent in teenage society.
The automobile had a great part in creating the teenage group. With this new ability to control their own form of travel, teens enjoyed more freedom from parental supervision. Courtship evolved into dating, and teenagers were given a new privacy that exploded into more risky and sexual behavior among teenagers. The availability of the automobile also lead to a new high school experience for youths. Buses could now transport children away from their isolated home towns to larger areas. This created larger classrooms and a larger concentration of teenagers, which then led to the evolution of the teenage traits. The distinction between adults and children was most obvious in the behaviors teenagers exemplified in these schools, for once surrounded by other teenagers, these traits became prominent in teenage society.
How does Literature influence teenagers?
Literature is an empowering piece of today's world. Unlike society, literature typically has strong, positive influences on teenagers today. While views of the public puts teenagers down, literature lifts youths up. Novels, plays, short stories, and poems about teenagers always have some sort of lesson at the end--a lesson that can be useful for a teenagers life. The Alchemist teaches that no matter where a person is from, they will always have the chance to achieve their goals. Antigone teaches that a person should always think before they act, but stand up for what they believe in when they think is necessary. The Catcher in the Rye teaches that loss of innocence is inevitable, and enjoying the bliss and ignorance as it lasts is important in growing up. Lord of the Flies teaches the lesson that authority is not always bad, and one should always be a cautious and conscious leader. A Midsummer Night's Dream teaches that teenage love, though often foolish, is sometimes worth rebelling for. A Separate Peace teaches that a person should always cherish what they have before it is gone, and be proud of who they are without envying others. "A&P" teaches the lesson that sometimes being a hero isn't worth it. "Barbie Doll" teaches that a person should ignore superficiality and substitute it with what makes them happy to avoid a terrible demise. Siddhartha teaches that no matter what, a person should always pursue the path they believe is for them, and should never give up on their search for enlightenment. These lessons are necessary for teenagers for today, for they not only relate to contemporary life, but also have very positive influences on a person. Literature empowers a person, and is often helpful in teaching life lessons. Teenagers just have to be willing to read, realize, understand, and apply.
How do teenagers influence literature?
In writing, an author should always try their best to be accurate in capturing different personalities and characters of certain stereotypes or archetypes. The teenage archetype is much used throughout literature, both accurately and inaccurately. The Alchemist, Antigone, The Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Separate Peace, "A&P", "Barbie Doll", and Siddhartha all capture teenagers in both negative and positive ways. Certain, constant traits of teenagers expressed throughout most of these pieces of literature ring with truth, while other overused traits are simply misjudgments and prejudices against teenagers. For example, in Siddhartha, Siddhartha has a strong desire for independence and a passion of searching for his identity. Both of these traits are extremely true for most teenagers, and prove to be very accurate, even in society today. However, in Lord of the Flies, teenagers are depicted as disrespectful. This judgment of teenagers as a whole is very inaccurate and insulting, for a person's attitude does not depend on their age, but rather their personality. So, in some aspects, literature proves to be amazing in embodying the traits of a teenager. However, in other aspects, the literature does a rubbish job of staying true to a real teenager, rather than society's misconceptions and judgments.
How does contemporary society influence teenagers?
Society has a very large hand in impacting the lives of teenagers. Recently, society has been promoting risky behavior among the youth. Each semester, Chaminade students are surveyed in their health class to track the overall changes in teenage behavior throughout the years.
In the spring semester of 2012, 6% of freshmen reported to have had at least one drink of alcohol on one day in their life. In the spring semester of 2014, 19% of freshmen surveyed yes to the same question. This is over a 200% increase in the intake of alcohol among teenagers. Despite the fact that it is only one drink at one point in life, these results tell that today's teenagers are more exposed to alcohol than teenagers of two years ago in the same environment. This information leads to the understanding that there has been some sort of promotion of alcohol between these two years. Society is partially to blame for this promotion, for it is often that on television shows or in movies, teenagers are seen drinking and partying. Often, these television shows do not put down the illegal intake of alcohol, but rather seem to say that it is plainly a "teenage thing to do".
In the spring semester of 2012, 2% of freshmen reported to have used marijuana one or more times in their life. In the spring semester of 2014, 5% of the freshmen reported to have done the same. The percentages may be small, but this survey reveals over a 100% increase in the use of marijuana among freshmen. This reveals more of a drug presence in today's society, especially among youths. With television shows like Breaking Bad and movies like 21 Jump Street, society makes drug use seem like nothing important that has no harmful effect on a person's life. Further, many celebrities and important figures to the teenage group have been promoting the use of drugs in their life, and even sing or rap about it. What these television shows, movies, and musicians do not say, however, is how drugs severely corrupt a person and affect their health and their future.
In the spring semester of 2012, 35% of freshmen reported to have been bullied for how they dressed, their skin color, their religion, or their size/weight. Only two years later, 46% of students had the same report. The survey reveals a 31% increase in the bullying of teenagers, and merely for superficial aspects of a person. This drastic increase in the bullying of teenagers can be mostly blamed on the media and society, for between product advertising, famous actresses and models, the widely accepted idea of there being a "perfect body", the tolerance of racial discrimination, and a large increase in strain on religious acceptance, there is no room for a teenager to be accepted. With nearly half of freshmen reporting to being bullied, discrimination against teenagers for superficial reasons proves to be a major problem in society today, and despite the occasional "be yourself" statement, the media does nothing to solve this problem.
In the spring semester of 2012, 1.5% of freshmen reported to have had sexual intercourse. In the spring semester of 2014, 7% of teenagers surveyed reported to the same question. The survey records a 367% increase in participation of sexual activities among teenagers. These numbers are ridiculous, for with the amount of effort and schooling now put into sexual education, a person would think that teenagers would understand that participating in sexual activity is extremely risky and can have severe, lifelong consequences. However, media and society are causing an opposite effect. Recent, popular television shows (such as Glee) and songs (such as "Teenage Dream") promote sexual behavior and makes sexual activities seem like "nothing big", or a "teenage thing". Teenagers need to realize that they do not need to succumb to the pressures of peers and society, and understand that they will not always be teenagers and need to think ahead to their future as adults.
The media and societal influences have a major part on shaping teenagers into who they are. In choosing how the media and authority will influence teens, people must realize that the teenagers they are molding are the next generation of humankind, and needed to be treated as so.
In the spring semester of 2012, 6% of freshmen reported to have had at least one drink of alcohol on one day in their life. In the spring semester of 2014, 19% of freshmen surveyed yes to the same question. This is over a 200% increase in the intake of alcohol among teenagers. Despite the fact that it is only one drink at one point in life, these results tell that today's teenagers are more exposed to alcohol than teenagers of two years ago in the same environment. This information leads to the understanding that there has been some sort of promotion of alcohol between these two years. Society is partially to blame for this promotion, for it is often that on television shows or in movies, teenagers are seen drinking and partying. Often, these television shows do not put down the illegal intake of alcohol, but rather seem to say that it is plainly a "teenage thing to do".
In the spring semester of 2012, 2% of freshmen reported to have used marijuana one or more times in their life. In the spring semester of 2014, 5% of the freshmen reported to have done the same. The percentages may be small, but this survey reveals over a 100% increase in the use of marijuana among freshmen. This reveals more of a drug presence in today's society, especially among youths. With television shows like Breaking Bad and movies like 21 Jump Street, society makes drug use seem like nothing important that has no harmful effect on a person's life. Further, many celebrities and important figures to the teenage group have been promoting the use of drugs in their life, and even sing or rap about it. What these television shows, movies, and musicians do not say, however, is how drugs severely corrupt a person and affect their health and their future.
In the spring semester of 2012, 35% of freshmen reported to have been bullied for how they dressed, their skin color, their religion, or their size/weight. Only two years later, 46% of students had the same report. The survey reveals a 31% increase in the bullying of teenagers, and merely for superficial aspects of a person. This drastic increase in the bullying of teenagers can be mostly blamed on the media and society, for between product advertising, famous actresses and models, the widely accepted idea of there being a "perfect body", the tolerance of racial discrimination, and a large increase in strain on religious acceptance, there is no room for a teenager to be accepted. With nearly half of freshmen reporting to being bullied, discrimination against teenagers for superficial reasons proves to be a major problem in society today, and despite the occasional "be yourself" statement, the media does nothing to solve this problem.
In the spring semester of 2012, 1.5% of freshmen reported to have had sexual intercourse. In the spring semester of 2014, 7% of teenagers surveyed reported to the same question. The survey records a 367% increase in participation of sexual activities among teenagers. These numbers are ridiculous, for with the amount of effort and schooling now put into sexual education, a person would think that teenagers would understand that participating in sexual activity is extremely risky and can have severe, lifelong consequences. However, media and society are causing an opposite effect. Recent, popular television shows (such as Glee) and songs (such as "Teenage Dream") promote sexual behavior and makes sexual activities seem like "nothing big", or a "teenage thing". Teenagers need to realize that they do not need to succumb to the pressures of peers and society, and understand that they will not always be teenagers and need to think ahead to their future as adults.
The media and societal influences have a major part on shaping teenagers into who they are. In choosing how the media and authority will influence teens, people must realize that the teenagers they are molding are the next generation of humankind, and needed to be treated as so.
what influence do teenagers have?
With both society and authority looking down on teenagers, it is difficult for teenagers to find their place and have a say in the world. However, the teenage years remain as some of the most creative and open-minded years of a person's life, for teenagers understand that observing everything is an important part of being human. This viewpoint often gets distorted later in a person's life by responsibilities, work, family life, etc. Teenagers prove to be very unique and able people, for undergoing the pressures of society and emotional turmoil that is pressed against their shoulders. The members of this group of young people are still trying to discover what life truly means, and are doing a solid job with carrying the weight that comes with the responsibility of being a teen. Society views
teenagers as corrupt, misguided, lost, and immature individuals. While these
qualities may apply to some members of the age group, there are multiple
examples of how teenagers have broken free of the teenage stereotype to do
great things, some of who are still memorable today. An example of a successful
teenager is Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg is one of the five founding members of
the social media site Facebook, which he created and advertised when he
attended Harvard University when he was still a teenager. Zuckerberg dropped
out of college in his sophomore year to complete his project and soon became a billionaire.
He represents the side of teenagers who prove to have passion, commitment, intelligence,
and courage in the world of stereotypes and misjudgments against teenagers.
Another great example of a teenager who proved society wrong is Steve Jobs,
also known as “The Father of Digital Revolution”, “A Master of Innovation”, “The
Master Evangelist of the Digital Age”, and “Design Perfectionist”. Jobs dropped
out of college six months after he enrolled and revealed his great inventions
and brilliant mind to Apple. Zuckerberg and Jobs are two essential examples of how
teenagers are judged for making the “wrong decisions” or “not being the
smartest kid in school” and end up being the most successful, wealthiest, inspirational
people on the planet. It is often commented that the teenager who is getting
bullied, judged, and discriminated today may be on the cover of Time Magazine
next month. It is these successes that adults and teenagers need to keep in
mind. The society of teenagers should not be judged by previous remarks and
misjudgments. Teenagers are the future grownups of the world, and need to be
treated justly as so.