Chapter 4: Adolescence
Terminology
adolescence
puberty
menarche
Puberty and Menstruation
Age of Onset; Emotional reactions
Puberty—period of life during which sexual organs mature and ability to reproduce emerges. Levels of sex hormones involved with development—primary sex characteristics and secondary sex characteristics
Age of 10—most white girls, black girls earlier
Gender differences: timing of changes between boys and girls different: girls begin and complete puberty 2 yrs earlier; quantity and quality of change different:
Menstruation—obvious physiological difference
Early and Late Maturation
Early—different from other girls, and way ahead of boys same age. May feel awkward and self conscious
Late --- in synchrony with male peers Low status in Junior high—“little girls”.
Menstruation
Menarche—first menstrual period
Menstrual Pain—50 – 75% adolescents and young women report pain ea month. (Dysmenorrhea) painful cramps
Leading cause of absence from school/work
Highly anxious women/more menstrual pain
The Controversial Premenstrual Syndrome
Symptoms; Psychological reactions; Controversy
Psychological factors
Coping With Premenstrual Syndrome
Premenstrual Syndrome
Controversy—definition (200 symptoms?); idea that all menstruating women experience it—at mercy of “raging hormones”; myth created by culture
Small number--5% significant symptoms
Mood swings: research doesn’t support—research by Hardie used definition of mood more depressed or emotional—none of 83 met criteria.
Psychological cultural explanation: PMS a fact of life. Jokes and references everywhere
Hormonal factors may cause premenstrual problems in small %,
Other factors important:
Psychologica factor: anxiety and strong endorsement of traditionally feminine gender roles
Cultural factors: PMS well established in society, emphasis on biological explanations
Coping:
Cultural Attitudes Toward Menstruation
Menstrual Joy—very little research—all negative
Chrisler research: encouraged to think about positive side, more likely to feel well-being, excitement, and bursts of energy
Attitudes toward menstruation
Menarche carries important messages, because sudden and dramatic event during sexual maturation
Contradictory messages—positive and negative both
Myths and taboos
euphemisms
Conspiracy of silence: little attention paid to onset of menstruation.
Menstruation: embarrassing event—needs to be concealed, hygienic crisis.
Tampax study in 1981:
Women aware of negative social impact—awareness may lead to poor self-presentation strategies. Non menstruating women more positive about interviewer and more
Self-Concept and Identity During Adolescence
Identity—self rating of personal characteristics
Body image—attractiveness more important for girls than boys, from preschool on. Most important dimension teen girls
Good looks and physical beauty
Body Image and Physical Attractiveness
· Eating disorders—culture emphasizes female beauty ideal of extreme thinness.
Adolescent girls more concerned with body weight and appearance than males
Dramatic increase in rates of eating disorders since 1980’s—goes along with increase in body dissatisfaction in teen girls.
Media
Women of color--invisible
Physical appearance vs. Athletic competence---appearance strongest predictor of self worth in females.
Males—athletic competence. Concerned with how bodies perform, compared with females preoccupation with how bodies look.
Girls in athletics found to have higher self esteem, along with long term health benefits
Feminist Identity
Ethnic Identity
Self-esteem—evaluation of yourself, negative to positive.
Recent studies: counter reports that female youth much lower than male
Meta analysis: over 200 studies, late adolescence finds somewhat larger gap between boys/girls--European-American. Black teens less discrepancy
Social class difference found
Education and Career Planning
Young Women’s Experiences in Middle School and High School
Early Experiences in Math and Science
Subtle biases-discouraging to women
Male peers
Extracurricular groups—girls not joining
Feelings of incompetence despite high performance
School programs—encouraging science for females
Parents & Teachers—support females’ interest in nontraditional fields—seek nonsexist career guidance
Higher Education
Demographics—females: more likely to pursue higher ed
Women—56% university grads in Canada; 56% students enrolled in US college/university
The Academic Environment
Career Aspirations
1. Adolescent males and females have equivalent aspirations with respect to advanced degrees, and they also aspire to similarly prestigious careers.
2. Adolescent females are more likely than adolescent males to choose careers that are nontraditional for their gender.
3. Adolescent females are more likely than adolescent males to emphasize the importance of marriage and children.
4. Parents are more likely to let daughters make their own decisions about careers.
Personal characteristics
Parents' backgrounds
Career Aspirations Versus Reality—begin middle or high school with career goals, until message of need to have boyfriend---lose sight of goals.
Romance—boyfriend may not support career ambitions, so less dedicated student
Downscaling Dreams—2/3 of group women studied—diminished aspirations—more energy directed toward romantic relationships.
Interpersonal Relationships During Adolescence
Family Relationships During Adolescence
Family as basis of identification
Mothers
Discussing emotions
Friendships During Adolescence
Romantic Relationships During Adolescence
Heterosexual Relationships
Lesbian Relationships