Abstract This paper examines the idea of teenage sexuality, asking whether it is necessarily a bad thing for teenagers to engage in sex or if in some circumstances it is a good thing. It looks at how when the talk of the problems of teenage sexuality come up today in the mass media and in the world of popular culture, the problematic aspects of it are considered to be teen pregnancy and the transmission of STDS among teenagers. It shows that while there is certainly talk of the importance of abstinence, it has become an accepted part of American culture that teenagers will have sex. It also explores why and how such a dramatic shift in cultural attitudes about teenage sexuality has come about. It looks at such issues as why we now warn teenagers about AIDS but still cannot talk to them about the morals of sex.
From the Paper "Sex is attractive to teenagers for the obvious reason--it is a pleasurable and often emotionally satisfying activity--and it is worth postponing for many teenagers until after marriage only if marriage seems likely to be a firm possibility, and at a relatively young age. When marriage becomes less important, the idea of premarital sex as both something that is wrong and as a category entirely separate from simply "sex" becomes hard to maintain. Studies of historical patterns of teenage birthrates suggest that from the first generation of women to achieve some measure of financial independence, sex without the burdens of marriage becomes attractive (Odem, 1995, p. 51)."
Abstract The paper looks at the issue of teenage pregnancy as it has affected and continues to affect the population of African Americans. The writer takes a look at the history of African Americans in American society and how external forces influence the number of teenage pregnancies. The paper includes an interview with a young mother, and concludes with a study of the causes and suggested solutions.
From the Paper "Melissa is a 17-year-old African American. She is a single mother with a two-year-old son. Last week, she had an abortion because she did not have the financial resources to take care of another child. According to Melissa, she ?is never lucky with men.? She asserts that she has unprotected sex with her boyfriends only when she feels that she is ?going to spend the rest of her life with them.? Yet when she gets pregnant, the relationship starts falling apart. In retrospect, she realizes that her boyfriends who are usually five to ten years older than her treat her ?like a plaything.? While they are affectionate during the relationship, the pregnancy and the prospect of a committed relationship frighten them away."
Abstract The paper gives the background of the controversy surrounding dress codes in schools, from students who claim the restrictiveness to sources that cite the declining level of violence where dress codes are enforced. The paper specifically argues the case in order to decrease the occurrence of gang-related attire. The paper includes a detailed example of a dress code and recommendations to school districts for implementation.
From the Paper "The dress code provides a balance between an individual's First Amendment right to free expression and the school's responsibility to provide a safe and secure educational environment. Schools have a responsibility to customize their individual dress codes to address the needs and standards of their communities through use of a process that ensures input from students, parents, faculty and staff, as well as other interested community members. On the other hand, students and their parents or guardians have a responsibility to be aware of the school dress code and to conform to its requirements. Finally, the principal of each school has a responsibility to interpret and enforce the policy stated herein."
Abstract This paper explains that the criminal justice system has long treated the young differently from adults, but community attitudes have changed in recent years so that this policy is in question. It discusses the concerns about youthful violence and how this has led to calls for a change in the criminal justice system in order to increase the punishment possible for certain young offenders, especially those involved in violence.
From the Paper "Other statistics are even more frightening. Webber cites the Children's Defense Fund, which estimates that an American child is arrested for a violent crime every 5 minutes and is killed by guns every 2 hours. Nine in 10 young murder victims in the industrialized world are Americans. Between 1979 and 1991, nearly 50,000 American children were killed by guns, which is more than the number of Americans killed in Vietnam in 25 years. An American child is 15 times more likely to be killed by gunfire in the United States than a child living in Northern Ireland. More than half the people arrested for murder in the United States in 1991 were under age 25, and juvenile arrests for murder and non?negligent manslaughter rose 93 percent between 1982 and 1991. It is more and more common for young people to kill each other, and 55 percent of juvenile homicides in 1995 involved friends and acquaintances (Webber)."
Abstract Of the 300,000 people who attempt suicide every year in the United States, about 10 percent succeed. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in children under 15 years of age; and about one in every ten teenagers will attempt to commit suicide before they finish high school.
Moreover, since 1950, suicide among young people has increased by 250 percent and the number is climbing. In Los Angeles county alone in one year, youth suicide climbed 80 percent. These alarming statistics highlight the importance of the need to fully understand the factors that contribute to suicide among youth. The first part of this paper examines the current research investigating predictors of suicide in young people. To this end, three categories of suicide predictor research are examined: Studies using clinical samples; studies using non-clinical samples and studies comparing predictors of clinical and non-clinical samples. The second part of this paper examines the story of one tragic youth who committed suicide in front of his classmates, as well as the issues faced by youth suicide in one major county. The review ends with the formulation of several conclusions concerning factors that assist in predicting suicide risk in young people.
From the Paper "Hutchings (1998) has suggested that another factor that may place children and adolescents at higher risk of suicide is if they witness domestic violence in their homes. In her study of a small sample of adolescents, Hutchings observed that adolescents who witness violence in the home are at an increased risk of trying to handle their own problems using violent methods; probably because their parents have modeled this behavior. Being at increased risk of using violence as a mechanism for coping, Hutchings feels that these teens could well be at increased risk of handling pain via suicide."
Abstract Over the last 100 years or so, the idea of what makes up a family unit has changed over the world. This paper studies the results of the important social changes which have occurred in the United States in the emergence of alternative family units. The paper shows that these social changes have affected the relationships between people in families, the communication between these people and the very structure of the families themselves. Two specific changes are discussed: (1) the arrangement of domestic partnerships wherein a man and woman reside together and may share in all of the duties and activities that would be common to a husband and wife, however they choose not to marry; and (2) the gay and lesbian families and how they have altered the societal perceptions of what the word 'family' actually means. While these two relationships do not affect everyone in society, they have changed what society thinks about families and marriage in many ways. Because of this, they are two of the most important societal changes that have come about in recent years and are worthy of discussion.
From the Paper "This change in the term 'family' sometimes helps to pave the way for changes such as domestic partnerships, but it also confuses some of the issues that are important to them because they are not seen as a traditional family unit, and many of the laws are written to protect the traditional 'mother, father, and children' family unit. The forms that a family can take are much broader than they used to be, and although many of them are challenged, more and more of them are beginning to be embraced by society."
Abstract This paper presents the work of many researchers who have studied the connection between childhood abuse and the development of borderline personality disorder. The author believes that chronic abuse leads to dysfunction in the processes of ego and personality development, attachment and affective stability. The paper concludes that the traumatic effects of physical and sexual abuse on the development of borderline personality disorder need to be examined in light of other potential etiological factors such as genetic predisposition, neurotransmitter imbalances, and other avenues that are currently receiving attention in the BPD research community. Abstracts and excerpts from Articles.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Abuse and BPD Statistics
Physical and Sexual Abuse
Conclusions
From the Paper "Wilkins has also found that the chaotic behavior associated with borderline women is a reaction to traumatic experiences. Unable to gain security from their relationships, a dysfunction of the attachment system occurs. The symptoms associated with BPD diagnosis, therefore, can be seen as a reaction to early relationships with significant others, perceived trauma, and experiences of real abuse, which are then internalized. The adaptive behavior of the borderline adult is a direct consequence of the messages received in childhood. They frantically seek to avoid further abandonment and isolation."
Abstract This paper is an opinion paper about the need for more emphasized sex education in high schools in order to promote correct use of birth-control and to assist in avoiding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teenagers. The paper includes statistics which indicate that ignorance is one of the leading factors for teenage pregnancy and STDs and argues that the educational system is failing today's youth.
From the Paper "In modern society, safe sex has become a major concern in the United States. As early as elementary school, individuals are learning all about the ?birds and the bees (Warwick Boar, 2003)?. People can walk into any Health Clinic and receive free condoms and information on safe sex. Today, sex is a subject of conversation everywhere and is considered a social topic.
The media supports the free-spirited attitudes people have toward sex, as the news reports sexual research, and television shows focus on "the pleasure and problems of sexual situations" (Duvall, p. 336). However, despite the abundance of information available about safe sex, according to a recent survey by Cosmopolitan, 53 percent of young women are having, or have had, unprotected sex, greatly increasing their risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or becoming pregnant."
Abstract This paper provides a detailed overview of the problem of juvenile delinquency world-wide. It begins by showing that the problem is not only in the United States, but is felt in other places such as Latin America and Communist countries. The paper then questions why there is such an upsurge in juvenile delinquency, looking at possible causes such as education, targeting by professional criminals, school drop-out and drug and alcohol abuse. The paper looks at possible solutions, including military education, human contact and positive educational experiences.
From the Paper "The solutions of the past are not foolproof. It's ironic that the military has often come through as a successful remedy for juvenile delinquents. Experts say that juvenile offenders who turn their lives around and go straight acknowledge a single, significant relationship as the catalyst for change. While the legal system toughens the juvenile penal code and focuses on additional consequences for juvenile crime, finding solutions has been difficult. Society is beginning to realize that the best solution, however, might be simple human contact. A caring, responsible adult can be the turning point juvenile delinquents may need. When children who were juvenile delinquents turn their lives around, it's because they have been able to enter into some type of relationship with an well intentioned adult be it a parent, teacher, counselor or some other role model."
Abstract This paper examines the concept of the typical American family and discovers that no such concept exists. It looks at the diversity of American society and within this diversity, the different types of family structures which exist. The writer states that just as the American people are diverse, American family should be diverse too.
From the Paper "The typical American family may be an ideal, but it will never be a practical option. Even if the American family could be achieved on a broad level, it would only produce many problems for society. The better solution is to recognize that the American family is as diverse as the American people. Rather than trying to reduce this diversity in the family, it should be embraced, with every family free to create a structure that works for them."
Abstract This paper explores the controversial subject of minors being executed for crimes. It explores several cases when minors were sentenced to death for cruel murders committed. The paper argues that although sentencing a minor to death is not a solution to crime, certain circumstances require this type of justice to be meted out.
From the Paper "The Supreme Court case of Stanford v. Kentucky set the federal minimum age of minors executed. The case actually involved two offenders. First, Kevin Stanford was charged with killing Barbel Poore, who was 20 years of age. Stanford repeatedly raped and sodomized Poore during and after a robbery at a gas station where she worked. He then shot her in the face, then in the back of the head. Does this sound like an act of a child? Another case studied involved Heath Wilkins. He was 16 and a half when he robbed a store and murdered 26-year-old Nancy Allen. After stabbing her 8 times, he left her to die. These do not seem like the acts that a na?ve child would make. These acts were well planned and their consequences were known."
Abstract This paper offers a brief survey of social child development over the years. It looks at how at each age a child needs to develop essential social skills in order to interact with fellow children. It looks at potential problems in social child development and the importance of age-appropriate stimulation for children.
From the Paper "Social skills develop gradually over time from the simple parallel play of two year olds to the playground games of elementary students, to social stratifications of high school. At all ages, however, the child must interpret the social milieu accurately and choose age-appropriate responses (Walker, 2002), and appropriate responses at one age will be inappropriate at another age."
Abstract This paper analyzes the reasons why advertisers market alcohol to the youth and the effects this marketing is having on the youth and society in general as a result.
Abstract This paper examined the issue of illegal street racing by teenagers, such act as dangerous as it is, continues to gain popularity among inner city as well as suburban youths. A case study was examined to see the details of such problem
Abstract This six-page undergraduate paper discusses the high school dropout in terms of contributing factors. These factors reveal just how complex the problem of dropouts is. The thesis is underlined.
