Re: Popularity Discussion -- Adolescent Psychology Applied to Education

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Subject: Re: Popularity Discussion

Author:
Jaclyn Suffel

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Date Posted: 20:56:32 01/20/08 Sun
In reply to: Jaclyn Suffel 's message, "Re: Popularity Discussion" on 20:55:29 01/20/08 Sun

>
>La France's response made me think back to our
>discussion on popularity and how it might have been
>formulated socially by the pace of development and
>peer response to that. One thing we did not discuss
>that I realized in La France's response is the
>criteria of what makes "popular" varies from race to
>race, class to class, and gender to gender. I notice
>in my children at Craigmont that what makes popular
>for young African American students is perhaps very
>different (especially physically, including manner of
>dress) than perhaps what makes white, hispanic, or
>asian children be considered popular by their peers.
>La France mentioned having "nice hair" as one of the
>criteria for young Black women to be considered
>attractive and therefore popular. It took me a minute
>to understand what this might mean because in my world
>and with my experience, this ment nothing to me. Once
>I actually computed this statement I realized that
>hair is very much so an attractiveness issue with many
>African American women whereas it was not as much of a
>gauge in my white world. In the end, I realized that
>no matter what race, attractiveness (no matter how it
>is measured) is a HUGE (and perhaps the most
>important)aspect to being accepted and liked in the
>adolescent psych. Whether it is nice hair, a well
>developed or built body, or the clothes you wear, no
>matter what race children are, attractiveness is an
>overwhelming and incredibly important aspect.
>
>As a teacher, I realize that my sensitivity to that is
>imperative. If children attack other children by
>challenging their attractiveness, I have always
>interviened. Now with this understanding, I find it
>even more critical. If I let rude quips and snide
>remarks about appearance slide, I would be
>contributing to negative self image that might last a
>life time.

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