How has the role of teenagers in the western world changed over the years? Neha Khatwani 10AS I think the role of teenagers has changed drastically in the past 200 years, if we look at teenagers nowadays we often see spoiled brats who often get pampered by their parents but on the contrary if we look back in history the teenagers were expected to provide for their family and generally took over house-hold chores. Not only have their roles changed but their attitudes towards life and family life; teenagers nowadays are often very sensitive and demand respect form their elders but in the past teenagers would obey their elders and were considered innocent rather than raunchy. In the past children were the solution to family life but are they now the problem to family life? Teenagers nowadays have become more open-minded rather than innocent and this has made them more independent and possibly less na??ve. Not only have they become less na??ve but they have been exposed to other evils like; drugs, alcohol and teenage pregnancies ; parents have become overprotective and shielding their children from these so-called evil things and by doing so they are more likely to develop a fond affection for their children and obey their every command. Some of these demands include fashionable clothing ( teens in 2006 spent about 179 1 billion dollars on clothing and accessories), new technology ( like ipods and new mobile phones) and finally other details such as extra-curricular activities and basic school fees. Teenagers are exposed to so much nowadays that parents try to shield them by pampering them too much. Also many parents wish to give their children everything they never had in their childhood; a very typical pattern in many parents. Finally teenagers nowadays have a lot more options, they do not necessarily have to follow their parents in career paths or neither do they have provide for their families like children in the past. Children also have ridiculous spending habits, in 2004 the candy industry earned 24.32 billion dollars in candy, 80% of the consumers were teenagers and children. 200 years ago children did not have this luxury and most children did not receive allowances but they worked for a living and all the that money was not spent on themselves but on the family as many families worked could not 1 2 www.teenvogue.com http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet16-TeenStatistics.pdf even makes ends meat. While teenagers nowadays have made clothing into a 179 billion dollar industry back then teenagers would often receive hand-me-downs from older siblings. In the past the middle-class and poorer classes would often work on farms and in later years when the industry was booming families got jobs in mines and factories. These jobs did not pay as well so couples had larger families so they could rely on their children to keep the family going. Another reason why children were less pampered was because parents did not have to be so overprotective and this probably meant parents had less affection for their children and merely considered their children as an economic commodity. In the past people lead simple lives and children were too busy with work so they did not have time to get involved with drugs or alcohol and not only did they not have time but much of this was not available back then. Parents had less to fear about so they left their children to be independent rather than overbearing them with protection and affection. The fact is that children are a lot more spoiled and loved by nowadays but is it because parents have become overprotective or is the mere fact that technology has made it possible for children to get what they want? I think that the evils of society have made people more concerned of their children so to shield them from this they feel they have to pamper their children. Also technology has evolved from the days where it would take hours or even days to contact some outside the country that parents want to give their children everything they were not able to have in the past. I believe children have become more independent rather providing for their family they are learning how to provide for themselves, is this a bad thing, the fact that children are becoming more in control of their future and becoming less family orientated? If teenagers have been given so much freedom now, what will they be like in the future, will they become more sensible or turn into a race of unappreciative brats? Think about it. Bibliography Magazines: 1. Griffin, Alison Big Spenders Teen Vogue, April 6th, 2007, Vol. 28, Pages 186-188. Websites: 2. McDowell, Josh Teen Statistics September 7th, 2000 http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet16-TeenStatistics.pdf 3. West, Ashley Role of teenagers 11th March, 2007 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=As_mofXsZ. LLsty_PxmAnjEjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20061111154659AAI8IN y 4. K, Rennice Is life easy for teenagers 28th February, 2008 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AveyXlWzO KdEIObBBvGbzEwjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20080219052340AAb dVbb 5. Cobras, Veronica The Trials and Tribulations of Being a teenager,10 December, 2007 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjAuAqP.ynq BVNM5QEQdV3QjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20071031213625AAR 35m4