The World's Youth : Adolescence in Eight Regions of the Globe

The life stage of adolescence now occurs in most corners of the world, but it takes different forms in different regions. Peers, with such a central role in Western adolescence, play a comparatively minor role in the lives of Arabic and South Asian adolescents. Emotional turmoil and individuation from family occur in some societies but not others. Adolescent sexual revolutions are sweeping through Japan and Latin America. In this 2002 book, scholars from eight regions of the world describe the distinct nature of adolescence in their regions. They draw on research to address standard topics regarding this age - family and peer relationships, schooling, preparation for work, physical and mental health - and show how these have a different cast across societies. As a whole, the book depicts how rapid global change is dramatically altering the experience of the adolescent transition, creating opportunities and challenges for adolescents, parents, teachers, and concerned others. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Contributors......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 Members of Study Group......Page 12 References......Page 13 1 The Kaleidoscope of Adolescence......Page 15 Objectives of This Volume......Page 17 Definitions of Adolescence......Page 18 Family: Diverging Forms and Altering Resources......Page 20 Schools: Expanding with Variable Effectiveness......Page 21 Peers: Increasing Interactions with Mixed Results......Page 23 Other Contexts of Preparation......Page 24 Facing the Future......Page 25 2. Globalization Versus Fragmentation......Page 26 3. Tensions Between Connection and Individualism......Page 28 4. Gendered Structures of Opportunity......Page 29 5. Circumscribed Progress in Health and Well-Being......Page 30 6. Optimism for the Future......Page 31 Appreciating the Kaleidoscope of Adolescence......Page 32 References......Page 33 Introduction......Page 35 Youth in the Age Structure......Page 36 Age Structures and Economic Growth......Page 39 Investments in Youth......Page 43 Education......Page 44 Equity in Education......Page 48 Health......Page 51 Labor Force Participation......Page 54 Marriage and Parenthood......Page 55 Household Structure and Income Inequality......Page 57 National Preparedness......Page 62 Conclusion......Page 66 References......Page 70 Introduction......Page 75 General Indicators for Adolescent Development in Sub-Saharan Africa......Page 78 Theoretical Complexity: A Triple Cultural Heritage of the Indigenous and the Exogenous......Page 79 Methodological Issues......Page 80 African Worldview......Page 82 Indigenous Conceptions of Adolescence......Page 83 Adolescents’ Family Relationships and Life Experiences......Page 84 Relationships, Roles, and Family Experiences of Adolescents......Page 85 Family Functioning......Page 87 Continuities and Discontinuities in Family Life and Adolescent Experiences......Page 88 Adolescents’ Experiences in Dislocated Families......Page 89 Peer Relationships......Page 91 Adolescent Sexuality and Reproductive Health......Page 92 Rural/Urban Differences in Sexual Behavior......Page 95 Adolescent Sexual Behavior and HIV/AIDS......Page 97 The Role of Cultural Factors in Sexuality and Perceptions of Procreation......Page 98 The Education of Africa’s Youth......Page 99 Indigenous African Educational Thought and Practice......Page 100 Patterns of Schooling and Institutional Education......Page 102 Positive and Negative Consequences of Schooling......Page 103 Combating Unemployment and Exclusion: Creating Value for the Inclusiveness of Adolescents......Page 105 The Health Care Service Delivery Systems......Page 107 Toward a Theoretic and Methodological Insight......Page 109 References......Page 111 Introduction......Page 119 Demographic Profile......Page 120 Family Relations......Page 121 Child Rearing and Implications for Adolescence......Page 123 Stressors Associated with Social Change......Page 124 Peer Relations......Page 125 Role of Religion and Caste......Page 127 Role of Media......Page 129 Contexts and Constraints of Education and Schooling......Page 130 Higher Education......Page 132 Continuing Concerns......Page 133 Employment......Page 134 Political and Civic Participation......Page 138 Civic Participation......Page 139 Substance Use......Page 140 Crimes Against Adolescents......Page 141 Physical Development and Nutritional Status......Page 142 Sexuality and Reproductive Health......Page 143 HIV/AIDS......Page 144 Health Care......Page 145 The National Youth Policy & Development Programs for Adolescents......Page 147 References......Page 148 Background......Page 155 Overview......Page 157 Modeling......Page 158 Parent-Child Relations......Page 159 The One-Child Family......Page 160 Peer Relations......Page 162 The Education System......Page 163 Academic Achievement......Page 165 Gender Differences......Page 166 Gifted Children......Page 167 Exceptional Adolescents......Page 168 Extracurricular Programs......Page 169 Private Preparatory Schools: Juku and Yobiko......Page 170 Employment......Page 172 Psychological Adjustment......Page 174 School-Related Behavior Problems......Page 175 General Health......Page 176 Sexual Activity......Page 177 Consumerism......Page 178 Civic Engagement......Page 179 Services for Youth......Page 180 References......Page 181 Introduction......Page 185 Background......Page 188 Family Organization and Relations......Page 190 Socialization Within the Family......Page 191 Impact of Social Transformations on the Family......Page 192 Gender Socialization and the Changing Role of the Female......Page 193 Peer Relations and Sexuality......Page 195 Sexual Behaviors......Page 196 Delaying Marriage......Page 198 Enrollment Rates......Page 199 Educational Survival Rates......Page 200 Labor Force Participation Rates......Page 202 Problems and Issues in Youth Employment......Page 204 Youth Unemployment......Page 205 Social Consequences of Unemployment......Page 206 Health Concerns......Page 207 Reproductive Health......Page 208 Life Conditions of the Urban Poor Youth......Page 209 Service Providers......Page 210 Services Within the School System......Page 211 Government Services......Page 212 Services from Nongovernmental Organizations......Page 213 Civic and Community Engagement......Page 214 Conclusion......Page 216 References......Page 218 Interviews......Page 220 7 Arab Adolescents Facing the Future......Page 221 The Arab World......Page 222 Being an Adolescent......Page 224 Family Relationships......Page 227 Family, Gender Difference, and Social Expectation......Page 231 Peer and Sibling Relationships......Page 234 Education and Employment......Page 237 Physical Health......Page 243 Mental Health and Problem Behavior......Page 245 Youth Services and Youth Programs......Page 248 Political Engagement......Page 249 Toward the Future......Page 250 References......Page 252 Introduction......Page 257 Overview of General Societal, Political, and Economical Issues......Page 258 Trends in Adolescents’ Family Relationships......Page 263 Girls’ Family Roles and Other Gender Issues......Page 267 Peer Relations and Sexuality......Page 269 Changes in the Experience of Schooling......Page 272 Trends in Adolescent Employment......Page 275 Adolescents’ Political, Community, and Civic Engagement......Page 277 Social Services for Youth......Page 278 Trends in Mental and Physical Health......Page 279 Adolescent Culture......Page 281 Perceptions of the Future......Page 282 Conclusions......Page 283 Notes......Page 285 References......Page 286 9 Adolescents in Latin America......Page 290 Social Changes in Latin America and Its Youth......Page 291 Demographics......Page 295 Economic Conditions......Page 296 Family Relations......Page 297 Interactions with Friends and Peer Groups......Page 301 Sexual and Reproductive Behavior......Page 303 Education......Page 306 Employment......Page 308 Health......Page 311 Violence......Page 313 Political Participation......Page 315 Conclusion......Page 316 Notes......Page 317 References......Page 318 Introduction: Who Are Today’s Western Adolescents?......Page 321 Overview: 20th Century Changes in Adolescence......Page 322 The Widening Scope of the “Adolescent” Years......Page 323 Family Relationships......Page 325 Peer Relationships......Page 330 School......Page 333 Employment......Page 336 Media......Page 339 Community and Civic Engagement......Page 341 Mental and Physical Health......Page 343 Provision of Services......Page 347 Adolescents’ Perceptions of Their Futures......Page 348 Conclusion......Page 350 References......Page 351 11 Adolescence in Global Perspective......Page 358 Causes for Hope......Page 359 Causes for Concern......Page 361 A Framework for Social Policy......Page 364 Multilayered Responses......Page 366 Knowledge and Social Policy......Page 369 Understanding and Analysis......Page 370 Dissemination......Page 371 Toward Freedoms and Choice?......Page 372 References......Page 374 Index......Page 377 The Kaleidoscope Of Adolescence: Experiences Of The World's Youth At The Beginning Of The 21st Century / B. Bradford Brown And Reed W. Larson -- Demographic Trends Affecting Youth Around The World / Elizabeth Fussell And Margaret E. Greene -- Adolescence In Sub-saharan Africa: An Image Constructed From Africa's Triple Inheritance / A. Bame Nsamenang -- Adolescence In India: Street Urchins Or Silicon Valley Millionaires? / Suman Verma And T.s. Saraswathi -- Adolescence In China And Japan: Adapting To A Changing Environment / Harold W. Stevenson And Akane Zusho -- Youth In Southeast Asia: Living Within The Continuity Of Tradition And The Turbulence Of Change / Madelene Santa Maria -- Arab Adolescents Facing The Future: Enduring Ideals And Pressures To Change / Marilyn Booth -- Adolescents In Russia: Surviving The Turmoil And Creating A Brighter Future / Anna Stetsenko -- Adolescence In Latin America: Facing The Future With Skepticism / Carlos Welti -- Adolescents In Western Countries In The 21st Century: Vast Opportunities-for All? / Jeffrey Jensen Arnett -- Adolescence In Global Perspective: An Agenda For Social Policy / T.s. Saraswathi And Reed W. Larson. Edited By B. Bradford Brown, Reed W. Larson, T.s. Saraswathi. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The life stage of adolescence now occurs in most corners of the world, but it takes different forms in different regions. Peers, with such a central role in Western adolescence, play a comparatively minor role in the lives of Arabic and South Asian adolescents. Emotional turmoil and individuation from family occur in some societies but not others. Adolescent sexual revolutions are sweeping through Japan and Latin America. In this book, scholars from eight regions of the world describe the distinct nature of adolescence in their regions. They draw on research to address standard topics regarding this age - family and peer relationships, schooling, preparation for work, physical and mental health - and show how these have a different cast across societies. As a whole, the book depicts how rapid global change is dramatically altering the experience of the adolescent transition, creating new opportunities and challenges for adolescents, parents, teachers, and concerned others The life stage of adolescence now occurs in most corners of the world, but it takes different forms in different regions. Scholars from eight regions of the world describe the distinct nature of adolescence, drawing on research to address standard topics regarding this age and show how it has a different effect across societies. As a whole, the book depicts how rapid global change is dramatically altering the experience of the adolescent transition, creating new opportunities and challenges for adolescents, parents, teachers, and professionals. This book provides descriptions of adolescence in eight regions of the world. Most people, including scholars, base their ideas about this age period on knowledge of American and European 'teenagers'. From Japan to Latin America, this book shows that this particular stage of life is unique in different societies