Fear of youth
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The psychological and social fear of youth is called ephebiphobia.
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[edit] Etymology and usage
[edit] Coinage
The word ephebiphobia is formed from Greek 'ephebos' έφηβος = teenager, underage adolescent and 'fobos' φόβος = fear, phobia.
Coinage is attributed to a 1994 article by Kirk Astroth published in Phi Delta Kappan.[1] Today, common usage occurs internationally by sociologists, government agencies, and youth advocacy organizations that define ephebiphobia as an abnormal or irrational and persistent fear and/or loathing of teenagers or adolescence.[2][3]
[edit] Similar terms
The term paedophobia has gained popular acceptance in Europe to describe the aforementioned "fear of youth".[4][5] Pedophobia is the fear of infants and children. Using this term to categorize fear of youth may dismiss the unique social position that youth occupy. Hebephobia (from Greek 'hebe' (ήβη) = youth) has also been proposed; however, no verifiable evidence is available to support that claim. Similar terms include adultism, which is a predisposition towards adults that is biased against children and youth, and ageism, which describes discrimination against any person because of their age.
[edit] Impacts
The effects of ephebiphobia appear to cause damage throughout society. At least one major economist has proposed that the fear of youth can have grave effects on the economic health of nations.[6] A growing number of researchers report that the fear of youth affects the health of democracy, reporting that the consequential vilification of youth has in the past, and continues to presently undermine public,[7] social, political,[8] and cultural[9] participation among current and future generations.
Many social programs and social critics view ephebiphobia as a condemning force against youth throughout society, particularly when coupled with racism as it affects urban law enforcement,[10][11] schooling,[12] and media around the world[13][14] The effects of sexism are similarly reported to be amplified by ephebiphobia[15]
As it effects young people themselves, ephebiphobia has recognized as a barrier towards successful academic achievement,[16] a barrier to successful social intervention programs,[17] and as an indicator of the ineptitude of many adults to be successful parents.[18]
Academics acknowledge the force of ephebiphobia in the commercial[19] and governmental[20] sectors of society, where this fear of youth has been extensively exploited for financial gain. This is elaborated on by social critics who claim that popular media exacerbated society's fear of youth.[21][22][23] That notion is supported by newspaper reports of the fear of youth as a driver of social policy.[24][25] A number of observers have indicated the deliberate perpetuation of mass social ephebiphobia in order to elicit particular public and social responses.[26]
[edit] Examples of the fear of youth in popular culture
- A Tribe Apart: A Journey into the Heart of American Adolescence by Patricia Hersch
- Rosemary's Baby (movie)
- Children of the Corn (movie)
- The Parent Trap (movie)
- Many movies about school
- Many songs about school
[edit] See also
- Fear of children
- Adultism
- Ageism
- Adultcentrism
- Youth Rights
- The Freechild Project
- National Youth Rights Association
- Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions
- Moral panic
- Mean world syndrome
- Mass hysteria
- Herding instinct
- Social control
- Youth culture
- Youth voice
- List of youth subcultures
- Generation gap
- In loco parentis
- Holt, J. (1964) How Children Fail. New York: Delta.
- Llewellyn, G. (n.d.) The Teenage Liberation Handbook: how to quit school and get a real life and education.
[edit] References
- ^ Gough, P. (2000) "Detoxifying Schools." Phi Delta Kappan. March 1, 2000.
- ^ Astroth, K. (1994) Beyond ephebiphobia: problem adults or problem youths? (fear of adolescents). Phi Delta Kappan. January 1, 1994.
- ^ Clark, C. (2004) Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers (Youth, Family, and Culture). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
- ^ Childhood is changing, but "paedophobia" makes things worse Institute for Public Policy Research. 22 October 2006.
- ^ Waiton, S. (2006) The Roots of Paedophobia. Online.
- ^ Gray, D. (1999) Negroponte: Europe's Net development held back by fear of youth, risk taking CNN. September 15, 1999.
- ^ Jones, P., Shoemaker, S. Chelton, M. (2001) Do It Right! Best Practices for Serving Young Adults in School and Public Libraries New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.
- ^ Grossberg, L (2005) Caught In The Crossfire: Kids, Politics, And America's Future (Cultural Politics & the Promise of Democracy) New York: Paradigm Publishers
- ^ Giroux, H. (2004) Take Back High Education: Race, Youth, and the Crisis of Democracy in the post-Civil Rights Era New York: Palgrave
- ^ Males, M. (2002) "The New Demons: Ordinary teens". Los Angeles Times. April 21, 2002.
- ^ Youth Media Council. (2005) Reclaiming Meaning, Echoing Justice. Oakland, CA: Author.
- ^ Kozol, J. (2005) The Shame of a Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America. New York: Three Rivers Press.
- ^ Collins, J. (2002). Gangs, Crime and Community Safety: Perceptions and Experiences in Multicultural Sydney Sydney: University of Technology.
- ^ Scottish Executive (2006) Measurement of the Extent of Youth Crime in Scotland.
- ^ Bromwich, R.J. (2002) Beyond Villains and Victims: Some Thoughts on Youth and Violence in Canada Toronto, ON: Women's Justice Network.
- ^ Butts, P.M. (2000) Beyond Ephebiphobia: Overcoming the Fear of Middle & High School Students; A Program for Public Librarians. Macatawa, MI: Macatawa Public Library.
- ^ Astroth, K. (1994) Beyond ephebiphobia: problem adults or problem youths? (fear of adolescents). Phi Delta Kappan. January 1, 1994.
- ^ Coontz, S. (1999) The Way We Really Are: Coming to Terms With America's Changing Families. New York: Basic Books.
- ^ Palladino, G. (1997) Teenagers: An American History. New York: Basic Books.
- ^ Giroux, H. (2003) The Abandoned Generation: Democracy beyond the culture of fear. New York: Palgrave.
- ^ "Studios caught in teen-age dilemmas Multiplex issues," Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA), July 20, 2001.
- ^ Shary, T. (2002). Generation Multiplex: The Image of Youth in Contemporary American Cinema. Austin: University of Texas Press. p.4.
- ^ Giroux, H. (1999) The Mouse that Roared: Disney and the End of Innocence. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
- ^ Parrish, G. (1999). "Fear of Youth", Seattle Weekly. February 29, 1999.
- ^ Street-Porter, J. (2005) "The Politicians Fear of Youth Culture", The Independent April 7, 2005.
- ^ Males, M. (2001) "Lies, Damn Lies, and 'Youth Risk' Surveys" Youth Today. April 2001
[edit] External links
- The Freechild Project Glossary - Unique definition of ephebiphobia
- Youth Rights Glossary - Unique definition of ephebiphobia
- Urban Dictionary - Unique definition of ephebiphobia
[edit] Related publications
- (n.d.) Youth Liberation, Z magazine online.
- Three Types of Youth Liberation - by Sven Bonnichsen
- Pro-Youth - A firm text against ageism towards teenagers, presenting a case of ageism committed by a jury.
- Everyone deserves to be given a chance - An essay against ageism towards teenagers, written by a Canadian adolescent.
- "Are We Down On Our Kids?" - A Review of Caught in the Crossfire: Kids, Politics, and America’s Future by Lawrence Grossberg in Endeavours magazine that diagnoses cultural ephebiphobia in the U.S.
- Ayotte, W. (1986) As Soon as You're Born They Make You Feel Small: Self Determination for Children.
- Chicago Anarchist Youth Federation (n.d.) Schoolstoppers Textbook.
- Cullen, S. (1991) Children in Society: a libertarian critique. London: Freedom Press.
- Goodman, P. (1964) Compulsory Mis-education and The Community of Scholars. New York: Vintage Books.
- Illich, I. (1970) Deschooling Society. New York: Harrow Books.
- Holt, J. (1972) Freedom and Beyond. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co.
- Miller, A. (1990) For Your Own Good: Hidden cruelty in child-rearing and the roots of violence. 3rd edition. New York: Noonday Press.
| Basics: | Youth • Empowerment • Youth empowerment organizations • Youth empowerment individuals • Youth-led organizations |
| Theory: | Youth voice • Youth/adult partnerships • Intergenerational equity • Youth rights • Positive youth development • Evolving capacities |
| Issues: | Youth activism • Student voice • Youth participation • Community youth development • Youth leadership • Youth court • Youth council • Youth service • Student activism • Youth vote • Youth politics • Youth-led media • Youth movement • Student rights • Student-centered learning • Free school • Adultism • Ephebiphobia |
| History: | American Youth Congress • Students for a Democratic Society • Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor • History of Youth Rights in the United States • International Youth Year |
| Documents: | Convention on the Rights of the Child • The Teenage Liberation Handbook • Pedagogy of the Oppressed • Youth: The 26% Solution |
