Monday, October 22, 2007

Alli Joseph and Sandra Long

Because this computer does not have speakers, we cannot hear his "rant". We did, however, search by keyword for kids on the web talking/writing/blogging about their own perceptions of their experiences as teenagers. This one in particular seems to be bored with school, something that has been consistent throughout time. We hope there are no f-bombs. -- Sandra and Alli



As follows, a 15-year-old study we found about teen stereotypes. We realize perceptions may have changed, but likely they haven't. The key words that appear most often are "apathy", "laziness", "alcoholics", "drug abusers", "over-sexed", etc. Apparently even the Feds think so.

http://www.kqed.org/w/ymc/empowered/stereotypes.html

As cited in link above:

Young people are portrayed by the media as alcoholics and drug abusers, criminals, bludgers, lazy, complaining and aggressive, according to research commissioned by the Federal Government. (The Age)

The Roy Morgan survey of 600 people, conducted in August, found that more than half thought stories about young people were negative and only 18 percent could remember positive stories in the previous 12 months. (The Age)

A national youth media award was unlikely to make a difference. It was useful for society to regard young people as outsiders and objects of fascination. (The Age)

The 21-word lead-in to a Washington Post (12/22/92) report sums up today's media image of the teenager: 30 million 12- through 19-year-olds toward whom any sort of moralizing and punishment can be safely directed, by liberals and conservatives alike. (Extra!)

Today's media portrayals of teens employ the same stereotypes once openly applied to unpopular racial and ethnic groups: violent, reckless, hypersexed, welfare-draining, obnoxious, ignorant. (Extra!)

Almost as ubiquitous - and blatantly stated by interviewers, TV anchors, boomer parents, liberal intellectuals, right-wing attack panelists, teachers, parents, and anonymous callers - was the notion that the American young are valueless, apathetic, and culturally impaired. (Hotwired)

2 comments:

McCormick Fellows 2007 said...

It seems that teens are looking for attention even when they don't say so. We should be investing in teens because they are our future. The media should be helping make communication easier, but many times they don't.

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work.