In what way are adolescents growing up faster?

Question

I've heard it said since I was a child in the 60's that adolescents are growing up faster and making more adult decisions these days. Children have always worked and done the house keeping, even in the early 1900's. In the past the older children would take responsibility for brining up the younger children. The decision to have sex at a young age is has been around for centuries. It is questioned whether Queen Anne Bolyn lost her virginity in her early teens way befor she met Henry.

Answer 1

ok . lady we are way smarter then your drug addict generation

Answer 2

Societies pressures are different these days, I'm not sure if that means children and adolescents are growing up faster when you consider your point about working since these days children work from a much later age (if they were working class children at least). However it definately seems like society is forcing adult situations upon children (like how childrens tv is all about getting a girlfriend/boyfriend etc..) and this makes them feel like they should be doing these things even when they are not ready. You get 13 year olds freaking out over not having a boyfriend yet and in shops they sell mini skirts in childrens sizes. I'm only 21 but it was nothing like that when I was growing up, just think back to childrens tv of the 90's compred to todays. It was all turtles and ghost busters, now every cartoons has themes of relationships, drugs and homosexuality, which must all be a bit much for an adolescent to deal with. I know lots of adolescents are dealing with these things anyway but there's no need to rush thos that aren't into it. I mean we've moved on from the days of children working down the pits and 15 year old girls getting married off by their families. We are at a time when children and adolescents can just relax and not have to grow up yet and yet they are pressured into it by media expectations. Its kind of sad in that in trying to relate to todays young people the media is forcing people to want to act older and older. Before children growing up "fast" was a necessity, now its just a way for people to make money and "better" television.

Answer 3

I believe that adolescents are growing up faster because they are recognizing their identity at a younger age. For instance, I am 13 and have known I was gay since I was 12. I am out and many adults say, "You don't know that you are gay." and I do believe that being able to keep a relationship with another guy for 9 months (with interest) confirms my sexuality.

Also, many adolescents learn about sex VERY early.

This is all I can think of. great question btw.

Answer 4

I think society is stealing our children's childhood, too much television , video games, e.t.c. Children grow up way before their time these days, for instance, I went to buy my 5 year old grand daughter a comic, and could not find one that didn't come with a free lip gloss, eye shadow,or some other silly item of make up. Why would comics aimed at 5-6 year olds be promoting make up for crying out loud??? Whatever happened to innocence? I refused to buy those comics, as I refuse to turn my sweet innocent little 5 year old grand daughter into a little slapper!!!!!

Answer 5

Adolescents are physically maturing quicker than they did a generation ago. Also, the media influence of today contributes to the socialization of youth for better or for worse.
So, yes they are.

Answer 6

in my view HIV and AIDS are an exceedingly severe issues that folk out of lack of information do not probably see the magnitude of. while maximum folk think of roughly that, they might not think of of the horrors and finally the dying sentance that they supply. they might think of of folk like Magic Johnson who look nicely and have AIDS. quite the failings that could kill you by using destroyed immune device could be an common chilly sore or the rest. i think of that folk could be greater conscious and lose their lack of information by potential of investigating approximately it or asking around a stable source. A documentary or a custom approximately HIV and AIDS may be a great stable for the everyday public if a important television community might practice it.

Answer 7

Adult views forced on the young. Suggestions of sex.Starting as something simple and ending in something risky.

Answer 8

They're not growing up faster

Many are so naïve they smoke, do drugs and drink themselves silly

That's hardly being grown up

Answer 9

because the life is faster than used to be at that time

Answer 10

I don't know...