Teenagers have had a an interesting history with their role in the
media. However, it was never very long. The "teenager" as it is known today, has only been around since the 1950s. The "teens" of the '50s were the children who grew up during the WWII, when everything, gender roles especially, were upturned for the war effort. However, when the troops returned, there was a scramble to get back "normal."
This period is important to study because this is the first appearance of the teenagers, but it is also the clearest period of teenage resistance. The era of Rock 'n Roll was completely different than anything before it. Despite most adults not liking the music or the culture, it continued to flourish. This is also the first time that youth culture existed in open opposition to popular ideology. This is the beginning teenagers being seen as something different and apart from adults.
Much of the historical Information on this site are thanks to Dr. Elisa Miller, from her lecture "Teenagers in Post War America" on February 19, 2013.
The guiding assumptions and my knowledge of the arguments that I proposed is due to Dr Leslie Bogad's Gender 354 "Teenagers In/And The Media," A course available at Rhode Island College.
The guiding assumptions and my knowledge of the arguments that I proposed is due to Dr Leslie Bogad's Gender 354 "Teenagers In/And The Media," A course available at Rhode Island College.