Teen Culture Across the ­Generations

Gr 7 Up–This slim, accessible volume gives an overview on teen culture since the 1940s, when the concept of teens as a distinct demographic group was first conceived. Today’s teens are known as Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) or Generation Alpha (born after 2012). They are more diverse than previous generations and have been raised with norms that are more inclusive and accepting. In concise, matter-of-fact language, the author explains how cultural norms impact many aspects of teen life, including how they dress, socialize, date, and treat people who are different from them. Readers will be surprised to learn that while today’s adolescents are different from previous generations in many ways—like the revolution in how gender is understood—in other ways, such as social activism, they are not all that different. This work would be useful for teens as they cover gender roles, inclusion and diversity, the role of religion and politics, socialization, and technology, media, and fashion in social science curricula. Extensive source notes, resources for further research, organizations and websites, and index are included in the back matter. Period photos in black and white and color include young adults from a diverse range of backgrounds and identities. Sidebars, floating quotes, wide margins, large print on white background, and splashes of bright greens and oranges make this engaging work even more accessible.