“Within the complex interplay of biology and environment that sets the start of puberty, family adversity – including instability in parents’ relationships – has been identified as a fairly consistent accelerator of pubertal timing (Belsky et al., 2007). Turning from antecedents to consequences, the many developmental problems associated with early pubertal timing for girls (e.g., risky sex, substance use) are well documented. Included in this phenomenon are a range of academic troubles that, given the highly cumulative nature of the American educational system, have potential to translate short-term behavior disruptions into long-term life course disadvantages.”

This flippant reduction of adolescent girlhood into risky sexual behavior and low academic performance (or at least my interpretation of this reduction) really irked me. While I’m aware that there has been much research beyond this article about the consequences of early pubertal timing for young women/girls, I think it is dangerous to say that just early puberty leads to (insert scary consequence here), without factoring in the whole picture of a person or the society/culture they live within. What about early pubertal timing plus lack of comprehensive sexuality education and lessons on consent leads to risky sexual behavior? Or early pubertal timing plus growing up in patriarchal society leads to risky sexual behavior and poor academic standing? Or how about early pubertal timing plus teachers and principals asking young women/femmes/trans students/black students to change clothing or hairstyle so that they aren’t distracting – what about that all too common scenario as a more acute factor to poor academic standing?

“It enables us to better identify the mechanisms of continuity and discontinuity, and it makes visible when transitions in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood work in conjunction with one another. Continue reading The ever-changing generational expectations →

“Experience in adolescence may also provide turning points that deflect earlier behavioral trajectories, and the unfolding of adolescence may allow for the accumulation of prior life advantages and risks that send young people on divergent paths into and through adulthood.”

As an aspiring ENL teacher, I often read articles thinking in terms of how this information could apply to immigrants and/or English language learners. So, in the case of this article, I was wondering, if the adolescent years have the potential to shape a person’s future, what does that mean for people who immigrate to a new country and learn a new language/culture as an adolescent? Continue reading Wonderings about Immigration during Adolescence →

“People between 20 and 34 are taking longer to finish their educations, establish
themselves in careers, marry, have children and become financially independent…” (Cohen, 2010)

The most intriguing aspect of this quote has nothing to do with what it actually says and, rather, with the fact that the information here is used to describe the current generation’s (age 20-34) Peter Pan syndrome, as if all those choices are immature or childish and, therefore, lacking of all responsibility. I ultimately understand that the point of the combined readings of this section is to show the complexity of adolescence, which it is, but there seems to be a confusing disconnect between this “in-between” stage in the middle of adolescence and young adulthood. This is a fascinating topic to develop opinions around all on its own, but when we look at the implications it may or may not have on education, I think our old fashioned expectations of adulthood are only hindering those that are in that “in-between” stage simply trying to make the best decisions for their circumstances. A man by the name of Mr. Furstenberg from Cohen’s New York Times article (2010) even states himself that “we’re still living with the archaic idea that people enter adulthood in there late teens and early 20s”, and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve taught 18-year old students, and as amazing as they are, I’m scared for any society that believes those children are adults. I don’t know what 18-year olds from the 80s looked like, but it just can’t be the same.