HOME

MEDIA RELEASE

April 17, 2003
Contact Person : Ann Walter, U of M Extension Service (507-437-9552)

Adult Assumptions About Youth --- Good Or Bad ?

Written By Ann Walter, Regional Educator, U of M Extension Service

In my 17 years working with youth and adult volunteers, I have noticed that I and other adult leaders make assumptions about youth who participate in the programs we provide. It is not unusual for any of us to make assumptions about people we meet for the first time -- we do it all the time. We ask ourselves is this kid a "good kid" or a "bad kid"? Will this kid be trouble or will he or she be a pleasure to have around? Why is her hair that color? Why is his nose pierced? Why are they wearing those clothes? Most likely we ask ourselves these questions and often come up with our own answers, which are not fact.

In the youth development field we call this "adultism". You will not find this word in the dictionary, but it has been given meaning by a man named John Bell. He defines adultism as "all those behaviors and attitudes which flow from the assumption that adults are better than young people, and entitled to act upon young people in numerous ways without their agreement."

Talking about adultism can be uncomfortable for us adults because it challenges some deeply rooted attitudes we grew up with. These attitudes or beliefs may be stifling the significant contributions youth can make to our families, schools, organizations, and communities. Youth are and can be wonderful resources in our world.

Now, I don’t want you to think that I am condoning the other extreme to adultism, which is a permissive attitude that says, "Anything youth want is fine." Because of the adultism youth have been exposed to over their years of development, they can be unreasonable, tending to act out their frustration, and have faulty information. Because of this they need clear guidelines and boundaries in their lives. Rules and structure are important and adults are naturally going to be the ones to facilitate this.

Some good strategies for combating adultism are listed below.

• Really listen to young people. Specifically listen to their thinking, their experiences and feelings about what their world is like.

• Ask what they think -- about everything.

• Zip your lip and sit on your hands. Curb your inclination to take over and support young people’s ideas. Validate their thinking.

• Allow them to make mistakes. This is how they learn, but be there to encourage them to reflect on their experiences and try again.

• Reverse the power relationships whenever appropriate. When, can we as caring adults, refrain from being the "real power" behind the facade of youth leadership?

• At the same time, do not push young people into decision-making and leadership positions without training and practice and an understanding of their responsibilities. Otherwise, we set them up for frustration, confusion, possible failure and humiliation.

• Always respect all young persons, no matter the age, and expect them to respect each other, at all ages.

• Have high expectations of their potentials, and a real assessment of their current abilities.

• Give young people real information about the way the world works, about our experiences, about relationships, about the contribution of young people to humankind, etc. Never lie to them.

• Be patient with ourselves when we inadvertently slip into our old adultist habits. It will take time to undo them.

Source: Bell, John: Adultism.