How Society Sees Teens

The other day, I saw two ladies commenting on teenage siblings at a grocery store. “Do they even know how to buy veggies?” That got me thinking.

Gowri Kolal (right) and Yuvan Thakur, 17-year-old friends from Bangalore, India, who have been creating zines on mental health. Photo: Chandni Doulatramani

It is commonly perceived by society that teenagers are ‘good for nothing’. This is not the reality, at least not all the time. Most of the time, television, books and other media represent teenagers in a stereotypical way- rebellious, uncontrollable and aimless. One cause for this depiction could be because negativity usually has a more glamorous and intriguing dramatic effect than being positive. This hurts teenagers more than people would think.

In a fast-forward world like today, there is immense pressure on many teenagers which is not recognised. They are often taken for granted as perpetually unoccupied. However, teenagers have the maximum tasks and expectations to fulfil in this day and age.

The rigorous routine of a teenager begins with nagging parents to wake them up and send them to school. They feel that until they aren’t off to school it’s their responsibility to castigate them- and in the process, drain them completely for their fresh day out. In the next hour, many have to face compassionless teachers who have other sets of expectations weighing them down. Peer pressure is another bother that all teenagers encounter during their school lives. Then, they are welcomed home with the nudging of siblings- and it doesn’t get over there- grandparents and the rest of society have their set of predetermined expectations for teens.

With no time to unwind and have fun, many teenagers either crawl into a shell or become stressed and exhausted.

Society has to understand and accept that this biologically energetic age group is losing its energy because of the unattainable goals society sets for its members. With the pressure to outshine others in most situations, and the fact that they are constantly under observation, the load of the saddle becomes so much that there is a continuous risk of the rider falling down.

There is a desperate need for society to set us free and acknowledge us as unique individuals that don't fit in the mould made for us. Trusting and appreciating your teenager by being cognisant of their potential will make them feel more confident and happy.

Respect is a give-and-take virtue. Let’s all practice this and empower teenagers!