Reading Reflection: Physical Development

As I was reading the material describing physical development in adolescents I couldn’t help but remember the amount of time I spent choosing outfits in middle and high school.  I would labor over the decision of what shirt looked best with my jeans and shoes for the next day all while consulting my friends on the phone for their opinion.  Physical appearance was of utmost importance for me during those years and still is for teenagers today.  Adolescence is a confusing time when bodies and emotions are changing.  Developing Adolescents: A Reference for Professionals acknowledges that there is no standard definition of adolescence.  There are more factors than just chronological age that determine when adolescence begins.  While there are many other facets that determine when a child enters adolescence, physical changes are the most obvious indicator to others that a child is entering a new stage in life.  I thought it was very important to note that just because a male or female may physically mature earlier than others they must still be treated according to their age.  Males and females who mature earlier or later than their peers may experience more difficulties during their teenage years.  This places responsibility on parents, family members, and mentors to encourage adolescents to discuss the changes they are experiencing.  A misconception about teenagers is that they desire complete independence from parents and guardians.  Developing Adolescents made it clear that teenagers need and desire guidance from a strong adult role model.  It does however take time to develop a trusting relationship with a teenager.  Acknowledging that puberty happens to everyone can help adolescents feel less isolated.  I was discouraged to read that there are not many studies that examine puberty from different ethnic perspectives.  Research is lacking in the areas of health and eating habits along with the general experience of puberty among minorities.  Our country is becoming more diverse and I think it is imperative that we include different ethnicities in these studies.   Overall, Developing Adolescents was a good reminder of what it is like to be a teenager experiencing many physical changes. 

Although my teen years don’t seem like they were that long ago, teens today do face many unique challenges that I did not experience.  Pressure to attain high beauty standards and a certain “look” in fashion is not only on TV but also on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.  The growth of social media increases availability of possible negative images to impressionable teen males and females.  Reading the Guys Guide to Body Image enlightened me to the fact that males worry about physical appearance as well.  Our society often bases male worth on ability to perform a team sport or physical activity.  That is clearly a generalization and there were many tips on the Guys Guide to Body Image on how to develop a healthy body image.  That webpage could also be a helpful resource to parents and guardians with a teenage boy.  It could provide insight and reminders of what it is like to experience puberty and offer opportunities for discussion.  As I was further investigating body image concerns I came across a Dove website that I was very excited to find.  Dove, which sells hair products along with other various beauty products, has created a campaign for real beauty.  Their campaign launched in 2004 with various efforts to encourage women to embrace their physical appearance no matter what shape or size they may be.  I was excited to see a link on their homepage full of resources to encourage healthy self-esteem in girls.  They have created an entire self-esteem tool kit broken down into different age groups.  There is even a tool kit for moms who have daughters entering puberty.  Dove also hosts workshops for girls to spend time with peers all while encouraging healthy body image.  While there does seem to be a stronger focus on girls Dove does include males in their campaign.  Males can find resources on their website as well.  I was excited to see such a prominent and well-known company tackling the issue of body image.  I think Dove has a great website which could be a good tool for adolescent males, females, and adults with teenagers.  Here’s the link: http://www.dove.us/social-mission/self-esteem-toolkit-and-resources/

Another issue many adolescents face is questioning their sexual identity.  This is currently a hot topic in our society.  Puberty is a time in which many adolescents experiment and explore their sexual identity.  For some that is cause for concern.  In Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth their entire purpose for writing that publication was in response to strong opposition to homosexual individuals.  They claim a surge in organizations seeking to change a person’s sexual orientation.    Medical and health professionals declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973 but strong feelings remain about sexual orientation.  I agree with the authors of Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation that counseling which aims to change a person’s sexual orientation can be damaging and cause more harm than good.  I think it is especially important to encourage individuals experiencing the changes of puberty to be honest about what they are feeling.  Puberty is confusing enough and it does not help when an individual feels added stress due to societal discrimination.  I visited the website for Focus on the Family, an organization which supports sexual orientation conversion therapy in order to learn about their point of view.  Focus on the Family believes that sexual orientation can be changed and individuals who seek therapy realize their need to do so.  They wish to provide resources to students in schools but due to legal issues are not allowed.  I am afraid their information could cause shame and guilt among adolescents who may be experimenting and questioning their sexual orientation.  Although I agree with the perspective presented in Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation it is helpful to see both sides to know what adolescents may be hearing.  These readings provided good reminders of what adolescents experience during puberty and information which points out new challenges faced by todays teens.