Social Construction of Adolescence: Past, Present, and Future

This course traces the cultural history of youth in the U.S. and the development of the modern concept of adolescence at the turn of the twentieth century beginning with a study of the origins of the term ‘adolescence.’ It uses a multidisciplinary approach to explore aspects of adolescence in contemporary society. As a class, we will critically investigate the construction of adolescence over time in relation to compulsory education, the juvenile justice system, current conceptions of adolescence, and growing up in the era of big data and social media. Additionally, we will deconstruct how social dynamics such as race, class, gender and sexuality influence how adolescence is viewed and how they view themselves. The class will touch upon international perspectives on adolescence and how it is different or similar to the United States. To achieve this survey effectively we will dive deeply into youth movements throughout American history as well as major international movements led by youth. As we delve into past and current constructions of adolescents, we will think critically about where adolescents and those who work with them think we should go from here.

Fall, Spring