Teens face several stereotypes in society today.
The 21st century teenager is given the challenge of trying to discover who they are while being faced with the stereotypes of rude and selfish, lazy, and plagued trying to fit into society. For instance, the 21st century teenager is often stereotyped as rude and selfish due to the hormone fluctuation within their bodies. Teens experience a lot of stress and lash out at others. Teens have to deal with everything in their daily lives on top of trying to control their emotions and discover who they are. Teens have to deal with the issues of trying to control their desires, developing relationships with others, having expectations, and trying to find happiness on top of trying to figure out where they belong. Trying to tackle all of these things can be very challenging for teens and sometimes adults do not realize that teens may be agitated because of these things. Furthermore, Thomas Hine, the author of The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager, describes teens when he says, “A messy, sometimes loutish character who is nonetheless capable of performing heroically when necessary, the teenager embodies endless potential not yet hobbled by the defeats and compromises of life” (Hine, “The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager”). The teenage years are a time of discovery for teens and a time of being unfocused. Teens are capable of doing great things and adults often consider them lazy because they only perform these things when necessary. Teens are very consumed with trying to find themselves and only are able to do great things when they are not distracted. In conclusion, teenagers are also stereotyped with trying to fit into society when they have no other option. The teenage years are when teens are trying to figure out who they are. Teens end up bonding together and trying to fit in because they have not made a name for themselves. Teens often are stereotyped as typical by adults, but teens are more than typical. The 21st century teenager is confused with trying to find who they are with all these stereotypes around them affecting them.
Works Cited:
Abowitz, Kathleen K., and Richard Rees. “What is a Teenager?” What is a Teen – Miami
University. Miami University, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
Hine, Thomas. “The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager.” Thomas Hine. N.p., n.d. Web.
14 May 2014.
Abowitz, Kathleen K., and Richard Rees. “What is a Teenager?” What is a Teen – Miami
University. Miami University, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
Hine, Thomas. “The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager.” Thomas Hine. N.p., n.d. Web.
14 May 2014.