Adults’ portrayal of adolescents

Adults’ portrayal of adolescents

Adults’ portrayal of adolescents emphasizes mainly on the risky behaviors that teenagers involved in during their adolescence period. Such problems include drug abuse, school shootings, suicides, committing crimes. According to the survey conducted in 1999 by Public Agenda, 71 percent of those interviewed termed American teenagers as rude, wild, and irresponsible. The adults also agreed that most teenagers could stop involving in risky behaviors if they were provided with the right direction and guidance as well (Public Agenda, 1999). It’s not correct for the society or adults to term teenagers as sullen and unruly because the impact of the stereotype of adolescents in the nation is always severe and has significant negative consequences. False stereotyping of adolescents both in the media and the community as the worst group lowers their self- esteem and also lose their chances of finding the best job opportunities that might come along their way.

In modern society, Mass media has played a significant role in the widespread of teenagers stereotype, particularly in developed countries. Television and media have now become famous as well as influential. The stereotypes created regarding young people are always incomplete, subjective, and sometimes present unclear or false statements regarding adolescents(Berry, 2000). Some teenagers have a positive mind and don’t engage in risky behaviors. If all the youths are termed as criminals, rude, or irresponsible, they encourage others to involve in such activities and lower their self-esteem as well. What the child, see, hear, or read in the media allows them to develop critical thinking on what and who is valued in the community, and the media plays a vital role in bringing out the stereotype of sullen, and unruly teenagers which is entirely wrong.

Despite the negative attitude and portray of the adolescents by society, they also have the positive side of them. Currently, many teenagers are performing well in schools; they stay together with their families, parents, and communities, as well. Furthermore, most teens are developing into adulthood without involving in risky activities such as gang violence, drug abuse, or school fighting(Wout, 2008). Therefore, teenagers should not only be termed as threatened species in society but also appreciate their positive side or contribution in the community. It’s hence the role and responsibility of the adults, including the professionals to shift their negative perception concerning youths and help them to grow and be better individuals in the society. Although teenagers are termed as a group of people involved mostly in risky activities, they need an adult to be around them, guide, protect, nurture, or teach them as they journey into adulthood (Wout, 2008). Therefore, supporting these adolescents by directing their creativity and courage into something productive will significantly help them. This will only be achieved through teaching, mentoring, and counseling the adolescents instead of presenting them as the worst individual in the society. By doing so, it will help them feel loved and wanted in the community and will not involve in crimes but instead, will focus on the positive side of life. Also, through close monitoring, teenagers characters and friends by families will stop them from choosing defiant peers that might mislead them into doing evil in the society as well as improving self-esteem.

References

Public Agenda. (1999). Kids these days ’99: What Americans really think about the next generation. New York

Berry, G. (2000). Multicultural media portrayals and the changing demographic landscape: The psychosocial impact of television representations on the adolescent of color. Journal of Adolescent Health, 27: 57-60.

Wout D, Danso H, Jackson J, Spencer S.(2008). The many faces of stereotype threat: Group- and self-threat. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44:792–799