BLOG POST #2

Within the article, "Redefining the Notion of Youth" by Steinburg, stereotypes about young people are identified and exampled. The first example, the article mentions how "kids are bad, kids are sneaky, kids raise hell, kids are not capable of making good decisions." Secondly, when the article mentions leadership by teens, they describe that adults reduced their leadership strategy into two categories, the "preppies" or "Paul Petersoneque kids" category compared to the "hoods" category. Lastly, the article goes over, how adults have a continuous discussion about what kids are doing wrong rather than their strengths/ trying to understand their differing perspectives.

There are many beliefs about youth that these mentioned stereotypes get there basis from. Some of these beliefs include the overall fear of youth and the underlying inability to embrace new ways of living. As you can tell these unwavering negative beliefs towards youth can significantly influence and cause prejudice.

Subsequently, youth stereotypes are impacted by race, class, and sexuality. You can see this when adults fail to include youth of varying backgrounds in conversations directly pertaining to them. Another example is seen where youth in minorities don't have as many leaders to look up to.

When first reading this article I got past memories of my specific time in elementary school. When I was that age I had less responsibility for my own education outside of school and how I was transported to and from school. Although I loved school, my teachers gave me a very hard time for these circumstances that were outside of my control. To be specific, I would frequently be late to school as a child my time management was mainly formulated based off of the adults in my household who would participate in our morning routine and drive me to school. Similarly, my school work was always completed but the support I received at home wasn't the most encouraging or supportive. The intentions were good at home, get all my work done, do it right, but the stress and the anxiety that working at home caused translated into the school day. My teachers pointed me out because I never fit the right mold or blend in with the others, I was not an "easy child" but some of the situations my teachers put me in I now realize as an adult how oppressive and ostracizing they were. This may sound dramatic but sadly what I experienced was beyond hurtful. Luckily I turned my pain into purpose and I will never allow teachers or youth to be bullies and I will do my best to continue spreading empathy and awareness.