Abstract
Teenage pregnancy and childbearing are key factors leading teenage mothers into disadvantaged lives. This paper discusses the negative effects of pregnancy on a teenager's life. It looks at how this effects a teenager's family life, education, social life, and the future prospect for the baby.

From the Paper
"Women who give birth as teenagers share many similarities prior to becoming pregnant in terms of family background, racial/ethnic profile and education (Bissel, 2000). These factors will attempt to present fundamental issues related to teen pregnancy and childbearing (Bissel, 2000). The consequences of teenage pregnancy and childbearing in the lives of young women in five different countries will be examined as well (Bissel, 2000)."

Tags:babies, early, teenagers, years, birth, child, abuse

Abstract
This paper explains that In Joyce Carol Oates' popular short story, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been", the seduction of the teenage Connie by Arnold Friend is accomplished through his exploitation of the ideology that was transmitted through the medium of popular rock music. The author points out that the story is set in the American 1950s against the backdrop of drive-ins, the ever-present music conveys a superficial understanding of romantic relationships that forms the basis of Connie's understanding of her emerging sexuality. The paper relates that the prevalence of music in the text lends a mythological or fairy-tale quality to the narrative, which in large part describes the seduction to take place. The paper concludes that, due to the prevalence of a superficial understanding of the world and human relationships that is constructed by pop music culture, Friend is able to use the ideals of such songs as an illusion for his predatory nature.

From the Paper
"Arnold Friend disguises himself in the clothing and mannerisms of the youth of the period, but does so in a manner that seeks not only to imitate others but to embody the ideals projected through the music. His arrival at Connie's house is connected to the music that Connie has been listening to inside her room, immediately creating an illusion of common interest: his transistor radio play "the same program that was playing inside the house." This serves to draw Connie out, initiating a brief discussion of the DJ that is on. Friend appears just a shade different enough from the other boys to create interest."

Tags:seduction, fairy-tale, rock, sexuality, illusion

Abstract
This paper proposes a study to examine the sexual esteem of adolescents as a potentially positive feature of their sexual development. Sexual esteem is an individual's sense of confidence in their sexuality and ability to be a good and satisfying sexual partner. The paper places sexual esteem within the context of adolescent relationships and in juxtaposition with the rampant body image issues experienced by adolescents to determine whether or not body image plays a role in adolescents' sexual esteem. The study also examines individuals who are in relationships to determine whether or not dyadic adjustment plays a moderating role between body image and sexual esteem.

Outline:
Current Study
Method

From the Paper
"Western adolescents are growing up in a culture that places a great deal of emphasis on beauty. The media prescribes ideal body image standards which are often unrealistic and not at all representative of a healthy lifestyle. Thoughts of body self-consciousness are not uncommon in Western society where individuals, especially adolescents, are constantly bombarded with images of athletic appeal and sexual beauty. Adolescents are especially prone to body self-consciousness, as the media directly targets adolescent audiences and creates a culture of peer pressure in which adolescents feel they must adhere to the values of thinness and beauty (Farguhar & Wasyllkiw, 2007). Research has shown that adolescents, particularly young girls, are greatly influences by media portrayals of thinness (Bell, Lawton & Dittmar, 2007). For example, Bell and colleagues (2007) found that young girls who watched music videos that sexually depicted thin models had higher scores on body dissatisfaction than did those who only listened to the songs and did not see the corresponding images of thinness and 'ideal beauty.' "

Tags:self-acceptance, heterosexual, gay, eating, disorders

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses whether or not drastic changes in legislation and criminal codes are necessary, given the actual statistics concerning youth violence. The writer notes that many sociological and criminological researchers have published studies on the actual statistics concerning youth crime, and it is these statistics that must be examined prior to determining whether or not changes to the criminal code, such as charging young offenders as adults, are warranted and necessary. The writer maintains that the true danger in America today posed to children is not other children, but instead, family violence, adult on child violence, and gun violence. The writer concludes that increasing the punishments for youthful offenders, therefore, will do very little to solve the problems of youth crime or youth violence, as these are not truly the greatest crime threats in America today.

From the Paper
"Critics argue that in order to protect society it is necessary to have harsh sentencing that shows children and adults alike that criminal behaviour is unacceptable. These critics argue that the purpose of sentencing should not be rehabilitation and they do not view rehabilitation as being possible or desirable. Instead, these critics prefer to seek vengeance on criminals and put very little thought into the future outcomes of such actions. Perhaps this would reduce crime, but history has shown that it does not reduce it by very much. In fact, unless you can lock up each offender for life, which is in some places crippling the financial affairs of some states, you are simply contributing to the creation of super criminals who learn how to better defy the law while locked up."

Tags:rehabilitation, justice, system, punishments

Abstract
The social and physical environments are not the only components one has to consider when studying youth and their spaces. On the contrary, research has alluded to something far more important: The perceived environment. This paper looks at literature on the subject, including Gill Valentine's article, "Children should be Seen and not Heard". The paper shows that many youth rely on public places to escape from the adult world and to roam freely with their peers with whom they can relate. It questions therefore whether public places are indeed "public" or whether they are simply places where adults continue to dictate the rules. It argues that youth should feel that they have as much of an important role in society in the development and shaping of culture and the identity of a place as adults. The paper concludes that, unfortunately, regardless of youth's efforts to claim certain spaces, adults still maintain control over the majority of public space.

From the Paper
"The spaces and places that youth inhabit are essential aspects of their physical, cultural and historical identity. Youth culture is argued to be a system of social relations where articulation of contacts and influences are drawn from power relations, fashions and habits (Massey, 124). Thus, the relations that take place between youth and society have an impact on shaping not only their perceived space but youth's identity and culture as well. The cognitions that youth collect relative to important settings in their lives help shape what has been referred to as their place identity. Place identity evolves, not merely in response to the physical properties of children's surroundings, but also as a product of social roles "their own and others- that help them understand who they are and how they are to behave" (Boocock, 36). This engagement with spaces, places, and people contributes to their competence in, and control over, their world and their culture. Doreen Massey argued that all relations that construct space are in one way or another always instilled with power. It is believed that sometimes adults possess a certain power over controlling youth and their perceptions of their respective environments. Although adults feel this control over place is playing an active role in the safety of youth in today's society, their control is in fact inhibiting the growth of youth today."

Tags:Boocock

Abstract
This paper critically examines some of the works published concerning the creation of one's sexual identity as well as the various agents of sexual socialization at work on modern-day youth. The chosen texts are: "In the Same Boat The Gendered (in)experience of first heterosex", ""Was it Good For You Too?": Gender Differences in First Sexual Intercourse Experiences", ?Sexual Messages on Television: Comparing Findings from Three Studies" and "Effects of Neighborhood and School Environments on Transitions to First Sexual Intercourse".

From the Paper
"The first of these works, "In The Same Boat" (...)" was primarily interested with illustrating first sexual experiences from a feminist stance. It states that "first sex" is more of a rite of passage for men than for women, using the idea that a male becomes a symbolic "man" upon the act of first coitus, while a female becomes a symbolic "woman" upon reaching puberty, and the onset of menstruation."

Tags:identity, sexuality, socialization, feminist, heterosexual, norms

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that it is often argued that juveniles are victims of circumstances and bad environments. Further, the writer points out that it is said that they come from "broken homes", "dysfunctional families", and "deteriorated neighborhoods" lacking any "internal community support". The writer discusses the relevance of this theory with the "rational" choice theory that criminal behavior is a matter of personal choice. The writer examines the issue of whether youths engage in criminal activities due to their dysfunctional environments or whether they thoughtfully plan, organize and rationalize their criminal activity. Social control and rational choice theories are compared to determine whether youths are victims of their environments or they specifically choose criminal activity regardless of their upbringings.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Youth Development
Theories Examined
Social Control Theory
Rational Choice Theory
Conclusion

From the Paper
" Social control theory can provide explanations to why the majority of incarcerated youths are from poor environments. The theory is criticized for not explaining why juveniles from stable positive environments commit crimes. The concept of white collar criminals is somewhat contrary to social control theories. Youths have risen from poverty, dysfunctional families, poor schooling, deteriorated neighborhoods and criminal peers to become well functioning productive members of society. An unstable difficult environment does not necessarily produce juvenile delinquency as social control theorists would suggest. Numerous negative factors do affect whether a child becomes prone to criminal activity but there are no solid rules or clear explanations."

Tags:victims, environments, circumstances, punishment

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that while the concept of cosmetic surgery remains a controversial topic amongst many people today, the practice of cosmetic surgery has become a common procedure for many North Americans. The writer points out that despite growing popularity, there is an increase in social debate over the accessibility and utilization of cosmetic surgery for teenagers. This paper seeks to explore how cosmetic surgery can be damaging, both physically and emotionally, for teenagers. The writer discusses that teenagers struggle to express themselves, yet disdain for their appearance may be deep-seeded and may have more to do with personal dissatisfaction than how they actually appear. The writer maintains that teenagers considering cosmetic surgery should have to undergo certain levels of counselling, both to determine whether they are making a wise decisions and to teach teenagers to look inwards for answers and not assume that purchasing a new body will solve all of their social and emotional problems.

From the Paper
" We are not helping teenagers by offering singular and evasive surgeries as solutions to their social woes. Understandably there may be cause for argument that some procedures are acceptable, but cosmetic surgery should never be seen as a necessary solution to the difficult pubescent years. If parents are going to allow their teenagers to undergo cosmetic surgery, they should remain part of the process and not distance themselves from the decisions their teen will have to make. Becoming involved and asking questions a teenager may not have thought of may in fact deter a teenager from making a decision they ultimately may live to regret. Teenagers have yet to develop a sense of mortality and permanency in their train of thinking. Cosmetic surgery is permanent and rarely reversible. A teenager may be enchanted by the idea of a perfect quick fix, but should the procedure go awry, as they may, teenagers are not emotionally equipped with the tools that will allow them to deal with such trauma."

Tags:body, apeparance, growing, up, adolescent, change

Abstract
This paper examines the daily stress factors that teenagers face and how this effects their everyday behavior. A few of these include developing a healthy body image, encountering drugs and alcohol, and combating suicide. This paper looks at these stressors, and concentrates more thoroughly on suicide.

From the Paper
"A very crucial process in growing up is the development of a healthy body image. Unfortunately, it is a process that many adolescents struggle with. Body Image is defined as "a person's mental concept of his or her physical appearance" (Berger, 1998.) Very few individuals are satisfied with their body image during adolescence. This negative view of themselves is contributed to by the media, their family and their peers. The media plays a large role in creating the image of the super model body type. In reality this body type is extremely unrealistic, however many teens endlessly compare themselves to the brush stroked magazine models. Adolescents also internalize comments made by their family during puberty when often their bodies can be disproportionate. The acceptance by peers is a very important and influential factor in adolescent life, and generally those individuals deemed to be more attractive are also more popular. Consequently, adolescents' attempts to obtain the super model body type, please their parents, and be accepted by peers, can result in increased stress over their body image (Berger, 1998)."

Tags:suicide, drug, alcohol, body, image, media, healthy

Abstract
The paper refers to the literature concerning obsessive compulsive dsorders (OCD) in children and adolescents that shows how the disorder is not only debilitating but also lacking in the necessary tools for assessment and treatment. The paper discusses the classification of OCD as an anxiety disorder and reveals that the prevalence of the disorder is under diagnosed and underestimated. The paper includes the writer's personal reaction that much more research is necessary within this area of psychology.

Outline:
Lack of Research
What is Known about Childhood and Adolescent OCD
Classification of OCD
Some Additional Research
Prevalence
Personal Reaction

From the Paper
"Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and potentially disabling neuropsychiatric condition, which often emerges during late childhood or early adolescence. This disorder is characterized by recurrent obsessions and/or compulsions which are deemed to be excessive to the extent that they cause distress in a person's life, and disrupt daily living patterns and functioning (APA, 1994). OCD in children tends to dominate every aspect of the affected child's life (Wolff & Wolff, 1991). The presence of obsessive thoughts and the overwhelming need to perform compulsive rituals may adversely affect the child's family and peer relationships, school performance, vocational functioning, participation in extracurricular activities, self-esteem, and emotional well-being (Wand, Furer & Shady, 1993; Thomsen & Jensen, 1991; Toro, Cevera, Osejo & Salamero, 1992)."

Tags:symptoms, rituals, assessment, treatment, depression, suicide