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Deconstructing Adolescence

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International Handbook on Adolescent Health and Development

Abstract

In this chapter I approach adolescence as social category, not a sociobiological stage, and show how the category itself, along with all its occupants, has turned into a perpetual social problem. In the discussion I address the criminalization of youth, the problems around youth sexuality, the dilemmas associated with drugs and alcohol, and the commercialization of youth identity. My argument overall is that the solution to adolescence as a social problem does not start with adolescents but instead with adults. They have the power and resources to reorganize adolescent life, but the question is if they have the political will.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sociology, University of Cincinnati, 1001 Crosley Tower, Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0037, USA

    Annulla Linders

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  1. Annulla Linders
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Correspondence to Annulla Linders .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Oklahoma, Medicaid Endowed Professor of Mental Health Emeritus, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

    Andrew L. Cherry

  2. Hellerup, Denmark

    Valentina Baltag

  3. School of Work, University of Central Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

    Mary E. Dillon

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Linders, A. (2017). Deconstructing Adolescence. In: Cherry, A., Baltag, V., Dillon, M. (eds) International Handbook on Adolescent Health and Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40743-2_2

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