Teenage Stereotypes

Here’re some of the most common and incredibly infuriating

assumptions made about teenagers and young adults.

1) We always wear Hoodies?!

• Most of the older generation’s perception of teens is that they’re addicted to labels and only venture outside in intimidating, baggy trousers and hoodies.

• If you see an adolescent wearing a hoody, that doesn’t mean they’re going to stab you and steal your belongings.

2) We can’t drive…• Car insurance costs

exceed £3000 for 17 year olds who have passed their test.

• ‘Young’ drivers are targeted in talks of accident-prevention on the roads. Surely drivers of all ages are responsible for road safety?

• If every single driver had to retake their test (INCLUDING theory, which many adults have missed out on) would there be as many people still on the road?

3) We all have ASBOs

• If it were up to some people, every single teenager would be given an ASBO just for the sake of it.

• “Many see the ASBO as connected with young delinquents,” so Wikipedia says, but people as old as 80 have been handed them!

• Just like in any age range, it’s the minority who are awarded them.

An 87 year-old was given an ASBO for constantly playing loud music.

4) We’ve got it easy.

• “You’ve got it a lot easier nowadays…”• “Everything’s spoon fed to you in this day and

age…”• WRONG!• -Record unemployment levels.• -Abundances of demanding GCSE and A Level

exams.• -Fierce competition for university places.• -All this while facing such small-minded

stereotypes. Do we really ‘have it easy’?

5) Our exams are easier?

• When the newspapers ran out of scoops, they came up with this: “Exams are getting easier” accusing exam boards of providing ‘less demanding’ exams.

• Then they claim “5 YEAR OLD PASSES GCSE MATHS EXAM…”

• …not mentioning they got an ‘E’ grade, which is far from a ‘pass’.

5) Our exams are easier?• If our exams are easier, could you answer questions

like these? (source: AQA Higher Tier GCSE Maths exam March 2011).

6) We all loiter

• When searching ‘loitering’ on Google, what does it suggest?

• You may see gangs hanging around outside shops during the late hours- but they don’t represent all youths!

7) We’re responsible for pretty much all crime

• It’s easy to blame young people for crimes, but it’s WRONG!

• Before reading a story, thinking ‘teenagers did it’ and then giving every young person you see in the next week a stone-cold glare, remember this:

• Don’t let the MINORITY influence your opinion on the MAJORITY.

8) We have no interest in politics

• Supposedly, all young people are oblivious to politics…

• …when hundreds of thousands of 16 to 17 year olds, who aren’t even allowed to vote, choose to study Politics at A-Level!

• Perhaps some teenagers are uninterested because they cannot have any say whatsoever in how the country is run.

9) We’re all obese, couch potatoes

• When someone says ‘Xbox’ or ‘Playstation’, the thought of a pale-skinned, greasy haired teenager with controller in one hand and nachos in the other seemingly springs to mind.

•There are many young, world-famous athletes such as Tom Daley and Usain Bolt and hundreds of thousands of other young, budding and talented sportspeople.

10) We don’t have any respect• Supposedly, teenagers have no respect for

adults: more notably teachers, parents and the elderly.

• Is it a surprise if we’re barraged with endless prejudice that some teenagers may rebel?

• Then what happens to the rest of us who continue to tolerate constant, unfair accusations? We’re given an even worse name.