POST #2: What is 'Youth'?
YDEV 501
WEEK 2: WHAT IS 'YOUTH'? HOW DO WE KNOW?
Anger. This is the feeling that coursed through my body while I was reading our assignments for this week. I was filled with anger, disappointment, frustration and confusion as to how these people, many of which are educators, scientists, teachers, etc. could ever have thought that their findings, ideologies and conceptions about the youth were acceptable, valid and rational. Then I told myself, "I'm pretty sure majority of these people were old white males". I googled their names and BAM!, I was right (sadly). As I began to process my thoughts on how to blog about the 3 stereotypes that stuck the most for me, my anger (accompanied with frustration and sadness) became more intense as these stereotypes are still prevalent in our society and I dare say, growing more and more evidently.
Stereotype #1: Young Adolescents as having a need for close relationships with adults
There is no denying the fact that young people need guidance from adults as these are the forming years wherein they're figuring things out about themselves, other people and the world. What I don't agree is educators defining and labeling all adolescents as having this same characteristic and equating the word "need" as something childish (and bad) because of beliefs that this population is feeble-minded, morally disordered, wayward and/or lacking parental guidance.
The video assignment we had for this week talked about the concept of serve and return wherein it was identified as the fundamental adult-child interaction. It is said that research shows that kids being surrounded by caring and responsible adults tend to have better growth development then those lacking positive adult attention. This said, one can argue that adolescents with a problematic behavior can be attributed to the lack of attention and care given by their parents growing up. Thus, we can't generalize that all adolescents are childish or morally disordered for needing a close or better relationship with adults as it is all relevant to one's personal relationship and community growing up.
Stereotype #2: White male characteristics as normative for adulthood and denigrated characteristics and behaviors identified as feminine or childish.
This stereotype really gets under my skin as I've spent most of my childhood (elementary and high school years) succumbing to this ideology. The thinking that male characteristics such as masculinity/ manliness, dominance and strength is synonymous with maturity and anything different or less than is frowned upon and labeled as feminine and childish. As a result, needing to be managed closely and changed/ helped.
It was a surprise (and in a weird twisted way, a good one) reading and learning more about this. I had feeling of relief in knowing that this stereotype was not just prevalent in the Philippines (Asia) when I was growing up. I remember being in elementary school and being teased by my classmates for displaying feminine characteristics. I didn't fit the mold of the rowdy and strong male kids who were into sports and displayed masculinity at a very young age. I would always get corrected by adults on how to act, behave and represent myself as a man and that anything otherwise is unacceptable. I remember being in high school (and even when I was in college) and constantly having my guard up in ensuring that I display masculinity and manliness by how I walk, talk and act. I would have my girl friend be on the look-out for when I do slip and for her to correct/ fix me immediately.
This stereotype harps on the idea that men are superior than women. One of the obvious reasons why men get away with a lot of things while women are being harshly judged and scrutinized for the simplest things.
Case in point, here's article dated back in December 2016 that tells an incident that happened to a 14-year-old girl in Maryland who was sent in the juvenile justice system for fighting with her mother. (Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/investigations/bal-juvenile-justice-gender-gap-20161216-story.html )
The article pointed out so many things that relate to the readings we had and how in our current society, we still see this kind of mindset from a lot of people in power:
1) Young women are disproportionately locked up for misdemeanors, which are low-level offenses, in Maryland's juvenile justice system. And they are more likely than boys to be taken before a judge for probation offenses such as running away, breaking curfew and defying their parents
2) Once in the system, they are often detained longer. At the state's most secure facilities, they are committed 25 percent longer, on average, than boys, even though girls are less likely to be there for felonies or violent offenses.
3) They also offer fewer vocational and treatment options, compared with the facilities for young men, even though the young women are more likely to have come from fractured families, experienced abuse or neglect, suffered from mental illness, or been victims of sex trafficking.
4) Juvenile advocates say the system is discriminatory and sexist — viewing boys as worthy and redeemable, girls as criminals or crazy.
5)Nationwide, as much as 40 percent of the girls in the juvenile justice system are lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, gender non-conforming and transgender, or nearly three times the percentage for boys, according to a 2016 study led by Dr. Angela Irvine.
Stereotype #3: Age is a positional superiority of adults over adolescents based on age in which adults always come out better, no matter what the particular issues or behaviors.
This is one stereotype that is being widely used by adults in a way to control the young people in making them think that they have no voice and opinion or if they do have it, that it's not as important just because they're still young and they don't know what they're talking about. This stereotype and view about young people was thoroughly discussed in our first 3 readings for this course as adults labeling the youth as problematic and why society continues to deny teens real role in society, except as consumers and trendsetters.
The article stated that teenagers are massed together on a single criterion of age and that because adolescence is defined on the basis of biological changes of puberty, which are presumed to be disruptive and destabilizing, it then gives the idea that teenagers are just dangerous and out of control. One thing that constantly comes to mind when thinking about this stereotype is the events that have been happening in the U.S. recently with all the mass shootings in schools, public areas, etc. How some politicians come up with excuses and reasons behind these unfortunate events but not seeing the main/ real point and action that needs to be done and then you see the youth who are the ones standing up for what is right and demanding change.
This video is a great example on how the youth are taking a stand and actually saying things and facts that matter. How they're advocating for a better world/ country to live in. What's also really inspiring is that if you watch the video clip, you'd notice that the audience members are all comprised of adults. How the tables are turned and that the young people are the ones in the spotlight teaching the adults on what to do and changes that should happen.
Conclusion
When I look at most of these stereotypes, studies and research about the youth, one thing that stands out is that it tends to cater and be favorable towards white males. Sad to say, this thinking is still being carried over in our present time wherein men are still viewed as more important and powerful. How people of color are deemed inferior compared to their white counterparts. Thus, being white (more often than not) gives you more leverage, power and benefits while others have to work extra hard to get a shot at a good life.
Introduction
Anger. This is the feeling that coursed through my body while I was reading our assignments for this week. I was filled with anger, disappointment, frustration and confusion as to how these people, many of which are educators, scientists, teachers, etc. could ever have thought that their findings, ideologies and conceptions about the youth were acceptable, valid and rational. Then I told myself, "I'm pretty sure majority of these people were old white males". I googled their names and BAM!, I was right (sadly). As I began to process my thoughts on how to blog about the 3 stereotypes that stuck the most for me, my anger (accompanied with frustration and sadness) became more intense as these stereotypes are still prevalent in our society and I dare say, growing more and more evidently.Stereotype #1: Young Adolescents as having a need for close relationships with adults
There is no denying the fact that young people need guidance from adults as these are the forming years wherein they're figuring things out about themselves, other people and the world. What I don't agree is educators defining and labeling all adolescents as having this same characteristic and equating the word "need" as something childish (and bad) because of beliefs that this population is feeble-minded, morally disordered, wayward and/or lacking parental guidance.
The video assignment we had for this week talked about the concept of serve and return wherein it was identified as the fundamental adult-child interaction. It is said that research shows that kids being surrounded by caring and responsible adults tend to have better growth development then those lacking positive adult attention. This said, one can argue that adolescents with a problematic behavior can be attributed to the lack of attention and care given by their parents growing up. Thus, we can't generalize that all adolescents are childish or morally disordered for needing a close or better relationship with adults as it is all relevant to one's personal relationship and community growing up. Stereotype #2: White male characteristics as normative for adulthood and denigrated characteristics and behaviors identified as feminine or childish.
This stereotype really gets under my skin as I've spent most of my childhood (elementary and high school years) succumbing to this ideology. The thinking that male characteristics such as masculinity/ manliness, dominance and strength is synonymous with maturity and anything different or less than is frowned upon and labeled as feminine and childish. As a result, needing to be managed closely and changed/ helped.
This stereotype harps on the idea that men are superior than women. One of the obvious reasons why men get away with a lot of things while women are being harshly judged and scrutinized for the simplest things.
Case in point, here's article dated back in December 2016 that tells an incident that happened to a 14-year-old girl in Maryland who was sent in the juvenile justice system for fighting with her mother. (Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/investigations/bal-juvenile-justice-gender-gap-20161216-story.html )
The article pointed out so many things that relate to the readings we had and how in our current society, we still see this kind of mindset from a lot of people in power:
1) Young women are disproportionately locked up for misdemeanors, which are low-level offenses, in Maryland's juvenile justice system. And they are more likely than boys to be taken before a judge for probation offenses such as running away, breaking curfew and defying their parents
2) Once in the system, they are often detained longer. At the state's most secure facilities, they are committed 25 percent longer, on average, than boys, even though girls are less likely to be there for felonies or violent offenses.
3) They also offer fewer vocational and treatment options, compared with the facilities for young men, even though the young women are more likely to have come from fractured families, experienced abuse or neglect, suffered from mental illness, or been victims of sex trafficking.
4) Juvenile advocates say the system is discriminatory and sexist — viewing boys as worthy and redeemable, girls as criminals or crazy.
5)Nationwide, as much as 40 percent of the girls in the juvenile justice system are lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, gender non-conforming and transgender, or nearly three times the percentage for boys, according to a 2016 study led by Dr. Angela Irvine.
Stereotype #3: Age is a positional superiority of adults over adolescents based on age in which adults always come out better, no matter what the particular issues or behaviors.
This is one stereotype that is being widely used by adults in a way to control the young people in making them think that they have no voice and opinion or if they do have it, that it's not as important just because they're still young and they don't know what they're talking about. This stereotype and view about young people was thoroughly discussed in our first 3 readings for this course as adults labeling the youth as problematic and why society continues to deny teens real role in society, except as consumers and trendsetters.
The article stated that teenagers are massed together on a single criterion of age and that because adolescence is defined on the basis of biological changes of puberty, which are presumed to be disruptive and destabilizing, it then gives the idea that teenagers are just dangerous and out of control. One thing that constantly comes to mind when thinking about this stereotype is the events that have been happening in the U.S. recently with all the mass shootings in schools, public areas, etc. How some politicians come up with excuses and reasons behind these unfortunate events but not seeing the main/ real point and action that needs to be done and then you see the youth who are the ones standing up for what is right and demanding change.
This video is a great example on how the youth are taking a stand and actually saying things and facts that matter. How they're advocating for a better world/ country to live in. What's also really inspiring is that if you watch the video clip, you'd notice that the audience members are all comprised of adults. How the tables are turned and that the young people are the ones in the spotlight teaching the adults on what to do and changes that should happen.
Conclusion
When I look at most of these stereotypes, studies and research about the youth, one thing that stands out is that it tends to cater and be favorable towards white males. Sad to say, this thinking is still being carried over in our present time wherein men are still viewed as more important and powerful. How people of color are deemed inferior compared to their white counterparts. Thus, being white (more often than not) gives you more leverage, power and benefits while others have to work extra hard to get a shot at a good life.
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ReplyDeleteJim - thank you for your response. The Anger image describes exactly how I was feeling combined with complete disgust that their accreditations are being used to validate and continue fueling this hatred. I also appreciate your experience with the stereotype involving masculinity. I can relate to this as I am not the definition of femininity and struggled with society's (and family's) expectations vs. how I actually feel. It was a crazy "balance" to try and live every day. Sticking with your 2nd stereotype, it was extremely interesting to read the article you provided as it reminded me of a lot of what the youth feel that get placed in the group home.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post Jim. I appreciate the way you first call out your experience of the readings--anger!--our emotional reaction is an important part of our analysis and interestingly, it's this kind of emotional reaction that is sometimes marked as feminized/ childish as opposed to the "logical/ rational/ objective" perspective associated with (white) masculine characteristics.
ReplyDeleteHi Jim,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insights & your ability to demonstrate your emotional response to the readings. I also felt some anger, especially while reading the Adults Think Black Girls Are Older Than They Are -- And it Matters. I remember watching the video that they mentioned in the article about the young girl at a pool party being thrusted down into the ground with a grown adult police officer sat on top of her. I also remember the Say Her Name movement that was trending via social media platforms. They are all very said circumstances to process but good that we can acknowledge them & attempt to learn from them. Which brings me to the video you posted of the youth activists discussing gun control & the devastating aftermath of school shootings. I enjoyed the professionalism, seriousness, & composure that these young individuals displayed in order to show these adults "look this is serious, we are serious, you're going to listen to us." I also, loved the young man who pointed out the fact that many adults cannot think beyond the scope of their world that they grew up in & cannot grasp the idea that the world is changing, thus we need to change in order to adapt to it & if the adults cannot see that, it is our job as the youth to bring it to their attention. This video also made me reflect on our first class when we found the pictures to describe what we believe youth work really is. The picture we chose that said less cops, more counselors came to my mind while watching this video. These youth activists see that whatever is already in place is not working. We cannot just police our way to safety. Something else must be done. Also, hearing those young people pleading with the adult audience to make a smart vote really touched me because these individuals are too young to vote & lawfully need adults to be their vote, put the youth's best interest in the forefront of issues to be discussed, & voice their opinions for them. Very powerful. Thank you for sharing.