WHO ARE YOUTH? WHAT IS CHILDHOOD?

     After reading the three articles "Are Children a Marginalized Group," "Denaturalizing Adolescence," and "Understanding Adultism," I thought it was interesting to learn how society perceives and handles youth. The first thing I came across was the idea that adolescents lack maturity, emotional stability, and capacity for rationality that characterize adults. The second belief that needs to be addressed is the idea that youth are frequently viewed as less significant and deserving of respect than adults, which causes their opinions to be disregarded. The last view i read was the idea that children are the property of their parents, who are supposed to have total control over every element of their children's daily lives. After reading the three articles. I thought it was interesting to investigate how society perceives and handles youth. The first myth I came across was the idea that adolescents are immature and lack the maturity, emotional stability, and capacity for reason that characterize adults. The second myth that needs to be addressed is the idea that youth are frequently viewed as less significant and deserving of respect than adults, which causes their opinions to be disregarded. The idea that children are the property of their parents, who are supposed to have total control over every element of their children's daily lives, is the third concept I identified.

    Race, class, gender, and sexual orientation all frequently serve to reinforce these preconceptions. Young people from disadvantaged racial or socioeconomic backgrounds, for example, are more likely to be labeled as "troublesome" or "at risk," which might result in harsher disciplinary actions. Similar to how gender norms affect how girls and boys are expected to behave, with boys frequently perceived as more rebellious and girls as more vulnerable, racial biases and prejudices frequently dismiss the voices of young people of color, and of the LGBTQ+ youth. 

    There was one time when my partner and I took a trip to Vermont for a little getaway. We stopped at a small-town store to pick up some breakfast supplies, and as soon as we walked in, we noticed people staring at us and whispering among themselves. We tried to ignore it, quickly grabbing what we needed and heading to the cashier. But when we got to the counter, the cashier refused to ring us up. We were shocked and asked if there was a problem, but all we got was a cold, silent stare. Sensing the hostility, I suggested we leave before things escalated. We walked out quickly, feeling uneasy, and ended up buying what we needed at a Walgreens instead. It was a moment that really highlighted the prejudice we still face, even in seemingly peaceful places.