From the descendence of humans on earth, we have been going through our teens to adulthood. But in the earlier times, even before the world wars, people hardly considered the term teenager as anything different. It was only in the late 1950s, right after World War 2, that people began to notice the bridge between adolescents and people in their teens. Mostly, their traits were different from other age groups, such as their interests, characteristics, and slight changes to their emotional self.
Researchers felt that this group of youngsters needed to be separated from others with their separate culture and space. By the 20th century, teenagers became more widely known as a different group, to name the term a real thing. Nowadays, we see how everything from education, personal utilities, hobbies, media to even technology has been designated for the use of teenagers to define them differently.
When did the idea of the teenager come into existence in sociology?
The first sign was the unique traits that lasted around a decade. People thought of this time as the transition to adulthood, but older than adolescence. The time in between these two phases caused the kids to be somewhat immature and capricious. By the 1920s, people came to recognize the term teenager based on these characteristics. It was in 1944, that the nation, mainly Americans coined the term teenager in the society to recognize the youth. The separate age group was meant to have different rights and demands. So, teenagers officially marked the transition from adolescence gradually towards adulthood.
Teenage rebellion throughout history,
However, the emancipation through this youth group also came with some vital issues in the West. They were thought of as a threat due to civilization in various fields. Due to their separate status and an urge for recognition and acceptance, teenagers were seen to revolt from even the late 18th century onwards. They were rebellious in various stages of life, expressing their demands through literature and other fields. As things were shaken from that time, the revolutionary nature of the young adults became more visible with serious consequences. The effects remained till the next century along with the rise of juvenile criminal acts. The whole 19th century experienced the rebels of the teenagers.
The Invention of the Teenager
As mentioned, teenagers were invented and officially introduced as a different age group prominently from the late 19th century and towards into the 20th century. From then on, the population of this group was on the rise and widely recognized in various fields such as magazines and newspapers. People considered this period as the growing time needed for this age group.
The teenagers used to wear something unique that suited their tastes to celebrate their new lifestyle. It was to identify this modern outlook and for the particular age group that people came with the term teenager. They used to publish the different styles and changes in fashion traits. Due to the invention of teenagers, a new era dawned on civilization.
Teenage culture in the 1950s
Parents were unaware of their kids back in the 1950s. Teenagers at that time had different views of fun and entertainment. But back in that time, teenagers were showing different characteristics. But they were very different than the one’s today. Most of the teenagers in high school were more like young adults and acted more mature. When they were acclaimed as a different age group with a title, they had new demands on different factors. They wanted to raise their allowance, take control of cars, and turned the high school into a whole new world. This is how the young rebel rooted later. They also had the liberty to work any job they wanted.
In addition, they had new ideas about a fun night and having a party. It was at that time that rock and roll music became popular by renowned singers like Elvis Presley and the band the Beatles. The new genre of music also had a huge effect to change teenage culture. However, due to their demands and change in life, they were often colored. Even then, they are considered the luckiest generation.
Teenagers of the Early Times
Teenagers of the Current Era
They had lesser knowledge of individualism and the other intellectual areas.
Kids these days are more advanced with development in knowledge and a broader sense of individualism.
Teenagers at that time had different styles in fashion, most comfortable in summer and colorful clothes.
They experimented more with style with an interest in various types of outfits and mostly towards muted colors.
They were the first generation to popularize rock n roll, and R & B music.
Teenagers now listen to various genres, mostly melodies.
Teenagers had a vivid social life with dancing and singing, and going out.
While they love to party and night outs, they also prefer to stay home more often.
Teenage boys and girls were victims of gender bias ness.
They have a better experience with gender equality.
Teenage: The creation of youth culture 1874 and 1945
The authors of that time wrote several books to explain and preserve the youth culture back then. After the emergence of teenagers, several things changed in the culture. While they were more popular in the 20th century, the creation of youth culture dated back to the late 1800s. The foundations for a new era came from the new teen culture. The development of teenage culture and their identity were mostly thought of as commodities. For this reason, different industries worked to change the economy, which included the media field, literature, art, fashion, history, food, and so on. They were seen to have different tastes in music and films, as well as every other way of life.
Who invented the term teenager?
The teenage concept was well established back in the 1920s. But it was only officially regarded as an identity only in the 1950s. The first people to use it were Bill Haley and the Comets in 1957. Back in 1898, psychologist G. Stanley Hall defined the new puberty phase.
Summary
Nowadays, teenagers are widely celebrated as an age group with their individual traits. Psychologists and other professionals have explained them vastly for us to understand better. Since they are considered the future carrier of the nation, the parents and others should take good care of them for a better upbringing.
