One section in the Understanding Adultism reading suggested that looking at behavior towards youth through a mirror would be effective in identifying adultist behavior. Questions such as, “Would I treat an adult this way?” or “Would I have this expectation for an adult?” were mentioned. After thinking about these questions, I’m not sure if I agree with this whole mirror idea entirely. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be respected as a “young adult” but I also wanted adults to remember that I was still a teenager. I felt that this gave room to ask questions and to make mistakes. This made me think about what a healthy youth-adult relationship looks like? I would want respect and kindness from adults, which includes their respectfully giving me advice. Young people need that.
This can be seen in the juvenile justice system, which we talked about in class. I mentioned the Missouri juvenile justice system and how rather than punishing the youth as adult criminals, it looks to a therapeutic model to teach the youth about making better decisions in the future. Here is an article about it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marian-wright-edelman/juvenile-justice-reform-m_b_498976.html
This brings me to another question about the entire meaning of Adulthood. When does it happen? When do you enter that world? When do you leave? It seems that the eyes of those around us are pointed towards our future adult selves as children. You constantly hear questions like, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or “What are your planning to do with your life?” People try to prolong their adult life and prevent the inevitable “decline” into elder-hood. It seems that when you become elderly many peoples’ thoughts of you are through the memories of you as an adult. I know that with my great-grandma (before she died), it was the constant talking about her life as an adult that made up my impression of her. I always wondered who she was in the present time and if that was that very different from who she was as an adult.
It’s a matter of power. Many feel more like an adult when they become more financially independent. It’s also very common for parents to leverage the financial dependence of their teenage children as a reason for them to obey them or as a reason why they can’t have a say in a conversation.
Overall I found that many of the issues about adultism had something to do with an abuse of power on the part of adults. Parents, teachers, and adults in the community do have power over their children/youth, which ideally would lead to teaching, nurturing, preparing, and respecting their kids.
I agree that there are many contradictions surrounding ageism. As children many of us are treated as tiny adults... way before we are ready to have such responsibility. And unfortunately, many elderly individuals are treated as children. Both of these behaviors are unjust, but I feel that treating an elderly person as a child is not only disrespectful, but also limits the depth of relationship that is available.
ReplyDeleteI feel that we need to look to our elders for wisdom and advice about how we live our daily lives. They have walked the path before us, and I feel that we have much to learn from them.
Sarah, you make several wonderful points in your post this week. I also found the excerpt from the text regarding looking at behavior towards youth through a mirror to be very interesting. Some of what the author had to say I agree with, but you make a very good point that a young adult wants to be treated with respect and have their opinions valued. However, they are not yet adults and need the freedom to be the teenagers they are. There is still the need for respectful adult guidance. I also love Carol's comment about the contradictions around children being treated as tiny adults, and elderly individuals often times being treated as children. Finally, one of the things that came to mind as I read the text this week was the reminder regarding the last idea you speak to in your blog, which is the power that parents, teachers and other adults have over our children. These powerful relationships can be very uplifting or extremely damaging. I can't help but wonder if some adults don't realize just how much power they have over the young people in their lives. If they don't, they should...
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