I think Donna Gaines article
Teenage Wasteland it’s really educational and different. I really enjoyed it because
in a way I felt identify for what Gaines was investigating and talking about. The
article is based on a multiple suicide, of 4 teenagers in Bergenfield, New
Jersey during the 80’s. Even though the article is quite old, and off course
times and culture have changed, it does provide key points to understand teenagers’
behavior.
In this investigation Gaines
showed a different aspect of teenagers and tried to understand their actions
and behavior. Lisa and Cheryl Burres along with Thomas Rizzo and Thomas Olton,
the guys that committed suicide together were seen as “Burnouts”, term used to
described the outcast and “weird guys”. Gaines theory claims that this was a
subculture group.
Culture itsefl have varios elements like values beliefs knowlegde and norms which form our daily basis. Society is what creates culture which its created by people. Its important to remember that every person is different and this is what causes dissagrements in culture. Even if people share same languaje and territory not everyone shares the same values beliefs and norms, whenever this happens we have subcultures.
Teenage Wasteland give us a perfect example of a subculture in the kids that commited suicide. They had their own reasons for being the way they are, meaning beliefs and values. He believed that society built norms that would fit every kind of teenager. In this case judgments force them to fell different and commit suicide
Culture itsefl have varios elements like values beliefs knowlegde and norms which form our daily basis. Society is what creates culture which its created by people. Its important to remember that every person is different and this is what causes dissagrements in culture. Even if people share same languaje and territory not everyone shares the same values beliefs and norms, whenever this happens we have subcultures.
Teenage Wasteland give us a perfect example of a subculture in the kids that commited suicide. They had their own reasons for being the way they are, meaning beliefs and values. He believed that society built norms that would fit every kind of teenager. In this case judgments force them to fell different and commit suicide
It’s pretty interesting the
solution that’s Gaines discovered. He explains that one the main reason why
teenagers get into subcultures that makes them feel outcast the society is
because they don’t have enough activities to do that will allow them to be themselves
and fell accepted.
I agree with his statement .I believe
that when teenagers have more resources and activities to do they will have
more options to fell that they belong somewhere.
I think your right and I think sometimes people dont know what consequences are going to occur when they open there mouths to make fun of someone or bully someone just because they are different. I think that it isnt right for someone to judge based on anything and sometimes a word or your actions can push people over the top and they end up committing suicide. Suicide rates are going up i believe and I think that some people just cant handle the bullies they cross in there lives and they end up choosing death.
ReplyDeleteFrom, reading your summary about the article, I think you actually said the most important things about the article and I agree with you because even though time and culture has changed, teenagers behavior are getting worse by the days. Your right it is interesting what Gaines discovered. I also believe in that when teenagers has more activities to choose from and have more resources, they will have more time to think and realize they do belong somewhere. But did you ever think, even if we changed all this and have more activities and more resources, teengers might change their behavior or still act weird as Gaines said? Sometimes even providing so much things, teenagers still take advantage of it.
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