Youth Culture

Drs. Gollnick & Chinn, 2021

P. 290-317

By: Madeline Foss, Kyle Fukumoto, Marissa Hughes, Nicole Katzaroff & Arnold Sanchez
 Defining Groups
Millennials
- Born 1980-1995
- Formative years included LA
Riots, 9/11 and the start of the
Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the
Virginia Tech shooting, and the
Recession of 2008
- Defined by their relationship to
technology, social media, and the
rise of modern globalization
- Pioneers of the internet, for
better or for worse
Gen Z
- Born 1995-2010
- On track to be the best-educated cohort in
our country’s history
- “iGen” moniker due to the rise of
smartphone and tablet technology during
their early childhood
- -
Generally progressive and willing to
fighting for change
- Defined in part by the rise in school- and
mass shootings in the US
- Potentially face more mental health issues
than any previous cohort
- Tethered to the internet and social media,
but rarely adequately internet literate
Gen Alpha
- Born 2010 - 2025
- Children of millennials
- Living in times filled with newest
technologies, including robots and
artificial intelligence
Possible and highly likely that
members will see cure for most if not
all cancers
- Destined to be the most
technologically advanced generation
 Culture of youth and meeting students needs by
understanding age groups

Why does it matter?

- Different cohorts learn differently based on their exposure and connection to technological
advances, global events, and the general Zeitgeist of their formative years
- Educators can’t create relevant lessons and example materials if they are only working with
media from their era. By using media that the students are familiar with, we increase their buy-
in for our content.
- Educators need to be aware of students’ post-high school options, and frequently check that
their advice is current and suits the students of that time both financially and aspirationally.
 The Challenges of Transitioning From Adolescence to
Adulthood
Adolescence
● One of most challenging times in life
● Constantly challenged to meet:
○ own desires for peer acceptance
○ parental expectations
○ own personal interest
● Temptations of easily accessible drugs and risky behaviors
Relationship With Parents
● Shifts emotional ties from family to peers
● Dissonance and alienation from parents and other family members
● Think Turn away from family while trying to achieve
○ autonomy
○ sexual functioning
○ identity
High-Risk Youth Behavior
● Youth activities that make them vulnerable to:
○ physical, social, or psychological harm
Substance Abuse
● Alcohol Abuse
○ Binge drinking most prevalent amongst young adults and college students in social settings
■ 14% binge drinking (amongst HS students)
○ Consequences
● Cigarette and E-Cigarette Abuse
○ Vaping an epidemic
○ Variety of flavors attracts adolescents
○ Consequences
● Opioid Abuse
○ 2017: 769,000 children and adolescents misused opioids
○ 1999-2016: 8,986 children and adolescent deaths
○ Consequences
Adolescent Sexual Behavior
● HS students are involved in activities that lead to pregnancy and STDs
● Kan and her associates found of HS students
○ 39.5% had sexual intercourse at least once
○ 28.7% consdidered sexally active
○ 29.4% used birth control
○ 53.8% used condoms
○ 13.8% used nothing
● Poverty most important factor contributing to teen pregnancy
● Sexting
○ 27% of teenagers send/receive sexually explicit messages or semi-nude pictures
 Adolescent Suicide
● Kan (2018) found 31.5% students nationally indicated they felt sad or helpless daily for 2 or
more weeks in a row and stopped doing some usual activities.
● Higher for females (41.1%) than males (21.4%). Disproportionate amount of suicides and
attempts involve LGBTQIA+.
● Possible reasons: decline in religiosity, tension between parents, family tension and conflict,
substance abuse, and competitiveness of school.

Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

● Self-inflicted harm done intentionally to one’s own body surface that is not socially sanctioned.
○ Most common: eating disorders or drug abuse, carving, burning, biting, picking or pulling
skin or hair, cutting scratching, banding, carving, hitting, and banging.
● Some are influenced by friends and acquaintances, and others by the media. These behaviors may
also be expression of rebellion, rejection of parental values, or statement adolescent’s
individuality.
 Bullying
● Nationally 14.6% students have reported being bullied via email, text, chat rooms, instant messaging, and
websites.
● LGBTQI+ harassed based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation at a rate of 59.7%.
● Peer pressure has often been contributing factor; peer influence has potential to end it.

Youth Violence
● In 2016 the U.S. leads the world in child gun deaths (firearms accounted for 3,143 deaths, of which 1,865 were
homicide)
● Columbine (1999), Virginia Tech (2007), Sandy Hook (2012), Marjorie Stoneman Douglas (2018), Santa Fe High
School (2019)

Adolescents in poverty, especially those of color live in neighborhoods with conditions that contribute to criminal
activity.

● More likely to be arrested, convicted, and incarcerated than white youth for similar offenses.
● Push toward Restorative Justice vs Criminal Justice. Restorative Justice brings together offender, victim, and
others who can support and facilitate the process.
● Street Gangs: join because of family stress, protection, money they receive through illicit dealings, power, and
sense of family.
● Alt-right/White Supremacy
Childhood
● Children raised in an exciting time filled with the newest technology
○ Robotics
○ Artificial Intelligence
○ Hopefully cures for cancers and other diseases
● Violence, Racism, and Bias present in our society affects our children
○ Must be aware of these injustices and to teach students about them
○ Have a no tolerance policy for violence, racism, and bias
○ Serve as role models to our students
● Childhood Abuse and Maltreatment
○ Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of child abuse
○ Educators must be aware of the signs and report any signs to the proper authorities
● Childhood Obesity
○ Children and adolescents with obesity continues to increase
○ Important to teach students healthy eating habits and importance of exercise
Classroom implications: How teachers can support
America’s youth in today’s classrooms
● When it comes to the support of a youth, next to the parents a teacher can be considered to
be in one of the best positions to support a student
○ Teachers can be a voice of reason & a calming influence in a student’s life
● American society in general has not always been viewed as being the most supportive or
positive in its perceptions of all age groups.
○ Adolescence is viewed as a time of stress
○ Elderly aren’t viewed with respect in U.S. culture
● This is why it is important that students learn to understand and value the contributions of all
age groups and cultures.
Classroom implications: How teachers can support
America’s youth in today’s classrooms cont.

● The school is in one of the best positions of any agency of the community to observe potential
and developing problems among students and problems that are taking place
○ The classroom teacher is a key agent in detecting and reporting abuse and in all states is
required by law to do so
● Adolescents today are interacting with others through social media, but they are not getting
any human interaction because of this. Teachers need to facilitate appropriate social
development for these students and assist them in developing interpersonal relationships with
fellow students and other people, not just with electronics
Summary

● Defined the different cohorts and illustrated why they are important
● Identified some challenges adolescents face as they transition to adulthood
● Demonstrated ways teachers can support children and adolescents in the
classroom
● Understanding these different aspects of Youth Culture can help us
implement CRP in our classrooms
References

Gollnick, D. M., & Chinn, P. C. (2021). Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society (11th ed., pp.289-318).
Pearson.