Growing Up Too Fast
****Review the Chapter 12 selection, "Tweens: Ten Going On Sixteen" by Kay S. Hymowitz in The Longman Writer (pp. 212–216). Application: Respond to a Reading Using Supporting Evidence: Growing Up Too Fast The behavior of teens and "tweens" is often considered an issue of serious concern in today's society. From improper dress to drugs to sex and violence, many parents worry that adolescent behavior is out of control. In addition, some are concerned that the average age of adolescence is getting increasingly younger, and that many children are being forced—either by the media or by peer pressure—to grow up too fast (Hymowitz, 1998). In this Assignment, you apply supportive evidence taken from the readings and from your own experiences to reinforce a position. Questions about this Assignment? Post them in the Contact the Instructor area. That way, everyone in the class will see and benefit from the Instructor's response. To prepare for this Assignment: •Review the Chapter 12 selection, "Tweens: Ten Going On Sixteen" by Kay S. Hymowitz in The Longman Writer (pp. 212–216). Then, read the following statement: •Are children growing up too fast? •Select a position to argue. Either agree or disagree with the above statement. Next, consider the following: •Reflect on your experiences of being a "tween." Was it fun, awkward, or awful? •What are your experiences with the emotions and behaviors of this age group? How have you responded to these emotions and behaviors, and what are their implications? Consider why "tweens" behave in the manner that they do. How do adult reactions affect "tween" mannerisms, affectations, and behaviors? The Assignment: Write a 1- to 2-page essay in response to the statement. Be sure to include the following: •An introductory paragraph that includes your thesis statement regarding your position in favor of or against the statement. Underline the thesis statement in your response. •1–2 paragraphs of supportive evidence for your position ◦Cite at least two examples from the reading or outside sources (e.g., books, journal articles, web articles) in support of your position. Note: Wikipedia will not be accepted as an outside resource. Formatting Expectations: •Indent the first sentence of each paragraph. Block paragraphs are not acceptable for this Assignment. Your final document should: •be in a 10- or 12-point font, such as Arial or Verdana •be double-spaced throughout •have 1-inch margins for top, bottom, left, and right •Include your full name and the Assignment title on the document
Growing up Too Fast
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Children in their pre-teen years are increasingly adopting adult like mannerisms earlier in life than before. For example, they dress like their favorite celebrities and wear make up to school. There is a significant difference between how tweens dress and how their parents used to decades ago. Teachers are particularly concerned about girls’ mannerisms because they mature faster than boys do and they are considering campaigns to advocate for introduction of uniforms (Kay S. Hymowitz, 2002). Tween girls follow celebrities’ lives and subject themselves to eating disorders in a bid to conform to the popular body image in the media (Kay S. Hymowitz, 2002).
Researchers are also increasingly interested in ten year-olds sexual activities. It is something that would have seemed absurd in the earlier days. Many engage in oral sex for adventure and it has lost its stigma. They also freely engage in drugs abuse and are particularly inclined to smoke marijuana. These children are also increasingly involved in criminal behavior such as the indiscriminate shootings in 1997 by eleven year olds in Michigan and Arakanese (Kay S. Hymowitz, 2002). Parents contribute significantly to their children-adopting adult like mannerisms before their teen years. It is because they clothe their children like celebrities and leave them home alone even when they are still unable to make rational enough decisions. Parents also increasingly allow their children to make buying decisions for their personal items such as clothing and some household items (Hartstein, 2012).
My tween years were filled with awkwardness and I liked to talk about fantasies with my friends. I was excited to learn about sexuality and I abhorred being taunted about boys that liked me. I would experience frequent mood swings and I would sometimes cry for no concrete reason. It was a confusing period where I wanted to grow up but did not welcome others noticing the changes on my body and physical traits. Tweens display behaviors such as talking back to parents, yelling and rolling eyes as signs of rebellion. They will als...