Discrimination Against Teens- Isn’t it going a bit too far?

                                                        By: Janelle Wallace, Editor

In today's environment of many cultures, colours and religions, I'm sure everyone has seen some sort of discrimination against another person. It is something that is seen and heard everywhere; on television, on the radio, at school and maybe even at home. However, have you noticed that most of this labeling is directed towards us teens?

In today's society the main discrimination target seems to be teenagers. When I say 'discrimination' I mean the way that today's teens can't even walk into a department store without being suspected as a thief. Think of it this way. When you hear the word "shoplifter" do you picture a fifteen-year-old or a fifty-year-old committing the crime? If most of those surveyed were honest, they would probably say that they could only picture a fifteen-year-old shoplifting. A very good example of this is when I am in a store (either alone or with a few friends), I am constantly being watched and followed closely by an employee. The clerks often use comments such as, "Can I help you?" Translation: "Buy something.... or leave." On the other hand, if I am shopping with my family, the people working at that store don't even notice me, and when they ask if they can help us, they don't use the same sarcastic, condescending tone. Do people honestly think that just because a few teens shoplift now and then, that every adolescent is a thief? I'm sure most teens can relate to this scenario.

Another example of common discrimination against adolescents occurs in restaurants. Picture this instance: Three fourteen-year-old friends walk into a restaurant, simply expecting to have an enjoyable dinner together. As they walk through the door, a family of three file in behind them. The friends ask for a table for three and after them the family also asks for one as well. Can you guess who gets seated first? As if being completely ignored, the waiter seats the family before the group of teens.

Teenagers are usually placed at the bottom of the priority list, and adults are always served first. I have seen it happen on many occasions, and it is sad to know that it is true. Sure, the family may be a better bet to spend more money in the restaurant…but that shouldn’t matter. Whatever happened to the expression, “first come first served”?

Today, adolescents are seen as immature, obnoxious and inconsiderate young adults, who don't know how to pull their pants up. Yes, that can apply to some of us but to those of us who don’t want to be labelled as such, it is our job, as teenagers, to show people like this the kind of mature, responsible and considerate individuals that most of us are.

From the point of view of a teen, I think that this is a completely unnecessary matter that definitely needs to be dealt with. One way to solve the problem would just be for people to simply understand that we are only teenagers, and that we deserve the right to be understood, listened to and we are entitled to be treated the same way as everyone else in this world, including adults. However, now that we see the discrimination we teens are up against, it’s also every teenagers job to show the adult population that we ‘deserve’ these rights by being respectful and by displaying the types of simple basic manners that all people should show towards one another. By doing this teenagers are opening a new door of respect and support that every adolescent should receive in order to succeed in today's society.