Nanette Davis suggests the potential for risky behavior among youths of all facets in American life. How is risky defined? What are the social, economic, and political circumstances that increase adolescent risk taking? Which do you feel most impacts youths today? Explain

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Risky describes behavior that is emotionally edgy, dangerous, exciting, hazardous, challenging, volatile, and potentially emotionally, socially, and financially costly—even life threatening.
• The uncertainty of contemporary social life – planning a future is problematic in a society where job elimination and corporate downsizing are accepted business practices, and divorce and family restructuring are epidemic.
• Lack of legitimate opportunity – in some elements of society, kids believe they have no future, leaving them to experiment with risky alternatives, such as drug dealing or theft.
• Emphasis on consumerism – in high school, peer respect is bought through the accumulation of material goods. For those kids whose families cannot afford to keep up, drug deals and theft may be a shortcut to getting coveted name-brand clothes and athletic shoes.
• Racial, class, age, and ethnicity inequalities – these discourage kids from believing in a better future. Children are raised to be skeptical that they can receive social benefits from any institution beyond themselves or their immediate family.
• The "cult of individualism" – this makes people self-centered and hurts collective and group identities. Children are taught to put their own interests above those of others.
• Student views will vary.