Issuu

KEYWORDS 2022

Adolescent Development & Health Dr. Jen Gilbert | YORK UNIVERSITY

Table of Contents Academic Burnout, Sarah Maraschiello………………………………………………………4 Ambivalence, Nerusha Kulenthirarajah……………………………………………………….6 Anorexia, Victoria Pampena……………………………………………………………………8 Asexuality, Stela Stoyanova……………………………………………………………………10 Ate, Pragathay Krishnan……………………………………………………………………….12 Bangtan Sonyeondan/Beyond the Scene (BTS), Aaliyah Balkaran…………………………13 Based, Caroline Santos…………………………………………………………………………15 Basic, Diana Mirceta……………………………………………………………………………16 BBL, Nicole Garibaldi…………………………………………………………………………..18 BeReal, Amanda Di Petta……………………………………………………………………….20 BeReal, Gabriel Wee Tom………………………………………………………………………22 BeReal, Annalyssa Schreck……………………………………………………………………..23 Binge Eating Disorder, Arsil Darouiche……………………………………………………….25 Bipolar, Miranda Marschalk…………………………………………………………………...26 Bisexual, Isabella Giorgio………………………………………………………………………27 Blunt, Maysun Arcand………………………………………………………………………….29 Blunt, Natalie Vani……………………………………………………………………………...31 Body Count, Kaamila Lall……………………………………………………………………...35 Body Dysmorphia, Christina Laprocina……………………………………………………….38 Body Dysmorphia, Nicole Malovatski………………………………………………………….41 Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Ivy Aflo………………………………………………………….44 Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Aaliyah Mohammed…………………………………………….46 BookTok, Lina Favlo…………………………………………………………………………...48 BookTok, Alexandra Gouvis……………………………………………………………………50 Boredom, Elena Calomino……………………………………………………………………...52 BTS, Esther Lu………………………………………………………………………………….54 The Bystander Effect, Hodan Mohamud………………………………………………………55 Cancel, Ysabela Reyes…………………………………………………………………………..58 Cheesed, Miranda Hermis………………………………………………………………………60 Chronically Online, Kyle Van Zeumeren………………………………………………………62 Cliffhanger, Jessalyn Shein…………………………………………………………………….63 Climate Strike, Jennifer Johnson……………………………………………………………...65 Consent, Sydney Clarke…………………………………………………………………………70 COVID Lockdown, Daniel Logozzo…………………………………………………………...72 Competitiveness, Mulhammad Abdulhafiz……………………………………………………75 Cringe, Christopher Gouin……………………………………………………………………..76 Cristiano Ronaldo, Gabriel Giorgi…………………………………………………………….79 Dab Pen, Victoria Leoni………………………………………………………………………..82 Danmei, Andrew Neil…………………………………………………………………………...84 Demigirl, JohnRoss Woodland…………………………………………………………………86 Depression, Emmanuel Ellis……………………………………………………………………88 DivaCup, Loredana Segota……………………………………………………………………..89 Doomscrolling, Ali Hasan………………………………………………………………………91 Drag, Patricia McCabe………………………………………………………………………….93 Duff, Sofia Spatola………………………………………………………………………………96

2 E-Cigarettes, Julia D’Elia……………………………………………………………………...99 ENBY, Dot Grossman…………………………………………………………………………101 Enby, Lauren Woolfrey…………………………………………………………………….….103 Expectations, Matthew Napoli………………………………………………………………...106 Exploration, Nicole Coutinho…………………………………………………………..……..108 Facetime, Samantha Sangiorgio……………………………………………………………....112 Facetune, Alisha Andrade……………………………………………………………………..114 Finsta, Ann Zasowski……………………………………………………………………….…117 Finsta, Nicole Pavlovic………………………………………………………………………...120 FOMO, Kathy Chen…………………………………………………………………………...123 FOMO, Isabel De Bartolo……………………………………………………………………..124 FOMO, Anita Gill……………………………………………………………………………...126 Friendship breakup, Lexie Rivard…………………………………………………………....129 Friendship during COVID-19, Sou Jin Kim………………………………………………....131 Fuckboy, Danielle Park……………………………………………………………………..…133 Ghost/ghosting/ghosted, Jordan Kiritsis…………………………………………………..….135 Ghosting, Alana White………………………………………………………………………...138 “Here” by Alessia Cara, Mara Bouldis………………………………………………………142 Homelessness, Thorin Stryker…………………………………………………………………146 Hookup List, Serena Ierullo…………………………………………………………………..148 Iced Coffee, Erin Webb………………………………………………………………….…….150 Ick, Nicole Robb………………………………………………………………………………..151 Identity, Kevon Webb………………………………………………………………………….153 Imposter Syndrome, Naomi Catanus………………………………………………………...154 Inclusivity, Victoria Villani……………………………………………………………………157 Insecurity, Julia Bocale……………………………………………………………………….159 Intersectionality, Natalie Mandarino…………………………………………………………160 IUD, Stephanie Snopek………………………………………………………………………..163 IYKYK, Kaitlyn Cordeiro……………………………………………………………………..167 Jane and Finch, Wileene Grace Olimpo………………………………………………………169 Juul, Sloan Kenter……………………………………………………………………………..170 Juul, Aleksandra Sus…………………………………………………………………………..172 K-Drama, Julia Hoang………………………………………………………………………..174 Loneliness, Adam Mingorance………………………………………………………………..177 Loneliness, Jaskiran Shergill………………………………………………………………….179 Main Character, Emma Vincencio…………………………………………………………...181 Main Character Energy, Julian Mulhall…………………………………………………….184 Neuroblastoma, Sinja Novosel………………………………………………………………..189 N***a, Jaedyn Charles………………………………………………………………………...192 Noob, Summer Hawamdeh……………………………………………………………………194 Nomophobia, Asifa Malik………………………………………………………………….….196 Nonbinary, Megan Pakulis……………………………………………………………………199 Obesity, Mawliga Nagabaskaran……………………………………………………….……..201 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Yingjun Li…………………………………………………202 Photo Dump, Zainab Javid……………………………………………………………………204 Pick-Me Girl, Karolina Solovka………………………………………………………………206

3 Piercings, Grant Cooke………………………………………………………………………...209 The Pill, Emily Zakoor………………………………………………………………………...211 Pog, Jeanine Dinh……………………………………………………………………………..213 Purgatory, Evangelos Arnokouros……………………………………………………………214 Purple Drank, Arthur Ditner………………………………………………………………….216 Quintessential, Pavel Belansky………………………………………………………………..221 Rumination, Gianluca Gardiman……………………………………………………………..224 Salty, Elise Bondi………………………………………………………………………………227 Sativa, Pranita Santosh………………………………………………………………………..230 Self-conscious, Salvatore Inserra……………………………………………………………..233 Senioritis, Perri Feldman……………………………………………………………………..235 Sexuality, Matei Penelea………………………………………………………………………236 Shame, Sophia Butrico………………………………………………………………………..238 Simp, Stephanie Brogno………………………………………………………………………239 Simp, Brooke Do Couto……………………………………………………………………….242 Simp, Sonia Sansalone………………………………………………………………………..243 Situationship, Ada Shehi……………………………………………………………….……..244 Situationship, Victoria Simoes………………………………………………………………..247 Slay, Simon Pellerin…………………………………………………………………….……..249 Slay, Schanelle Wong………………………………………………………………………….251 Slim Thick, Katrina Cain-Griffin……………………………………………………….…….252 Smoking, Cristian Lorca………………………………………………………………………254 Stan, Christopher Annett………………………………………………………………………266 Stan, Kristen Dodds……………………………………………………………………………268 Stealth, Lucean McCaughin…………………………………………………………………..271 Stoner, Philip Costa……………………………………………………………………………276 Suffocating, Christopher Miniucci……………………………………………………………280 Swiftie, Abbie Elsie…………………………………………………………………………….282 Tea, Jessica Lisena…………………………………………………………………………….285 Test Anxiety, Alessio Giovannoni…………………………………………………………….288 TikTok, Matthieu Juras………………………………………………………………….……290 Toke, Vanessa Barker…………………………………………………………………………292 Trappin, Noah Zweig………………………………………………………………………….294 True Self, Christina Cupelli…………………………………………………………….……..296 Vaping, Joshua Borges………………………………………………………………….…….299 Vaping, Marina Cuffaro………………………………………………………………………302 Vaping, Vanessa La Monaca………………………………………………………………….305 Wexford, Branden Carrier……………………………………………………………….……308 Wired, Arianna Hatzis………………………………………………………………….……..309 Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve, Ayah Eweis…………………………………………….……311 Zesty, Abigail Mceyeson………………………………………………………………….……314

Academic Burnout Sarah Maraschiello What is burnout? Academic burnout is caused when a student has an emotional, physical and mental response to stress. This can occur when a student has a heavy workload, or struggling to balance academic work with external aspects of their daily lives. Burnout is something that people of all ages experience, but during the pandemic, this phenomenon has become increasingly prevalent, especially in teenagers, who were completing schooling online. What are the steps of burnout? Burnout is characterized by three common symptoms, including exhaustion, distancing, and inefficiency. Exhaustion in the sense of burnout, is chronic. Taking breaks, or a nap will not solve this tired feeling. This can lead students to ‘going through the motions' at school, where they may be able to show up to school, but are not actively engaging with their academic life because they feel physically unable to. Distancing, also known as cynicism or depersonalization can lead to a student feeling withdrawn, detached, and frustrated. This impacts all aspects of their life, including friendships, work life, relationships with teachers and role models. Inefficiency affects their productivity, which may look like failure to complete homework or assignments on deadline. What can cause burnout? Burnout is influenced by many factors other than just a heavy workload. Some other contributors include too much focus on school, demonstrating perfectionism, emotional instability, and poor time management skills. With the pandemic, this resulted in the feeling of a loss of control for many students, as their education was no longer stable and dependable. This is a huge factor that led to many students burning out in the past few years. What are ways to cope with burnout as a student? As a student, burnout can be combated through proper planning and organizing of their responsibilities. A balance between academic and social life is important. Self care and taking breaks are also great ways to help control overwhelming feelings of stress. As a teacher? Teachers and educators need to be aware of the feeling of burnout that many of their students will experience. Some ways that teachers can help their students to control stress levels is by giving reasonable homework and workload, with adequate class time to work/reflect on class material. Teachers can give students more agency and ownership over their assignments, by allowing students to choose how to demonstrate their understanding. For example, rather than restricting students to an essay in an English class, giving more options for creative responses, including a. Podcast, poetry, or making an art piece, is a great way to give students control over

5 their learning. Another important way to improve burnout for students is to encourage an extremely positive classroom environment, by forming group discussions and opportunities for students to make personal connections with each other. For further reading on burnout, how to recognize the symptoms and help students in need, refer to “What Is Academic Burnout?”, published by University of the People. This article provides great insight into the causes of burnout, and ways to recognize it when it is happening. A great academic source that describes a study of high school students from South Korea is, “From emotional exhaustion to cynicism in academic burnout among Korean high school students: Focusing on the mediation effects of hatred of academic work”. References 1) From emotional exhaustion to cynicism in academic burnout among Korean high school students: Focusing on the mediation effects of hatred of academic work https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/smi.2936 2) What Is Academic Burnout? https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-is-academic-burnout/

Ambivalence Nerusha Kulenthirarajah I am trying. I am trying to be there for you. I am trying to be supportive and encourage your dreams. I am trying to understand you but fail every time. Why are you so difficult? Sarah’s mother said that to her when she was an adolescent but she have not forgotten that ever since. Though, as an adolescent, how can one explain their thoughts to other individuals when they are trying to understand their mental process themselves? Teenagers are stuck between two stages; They are considered “a rising adult and a fading child” simultaneously. As a result, they may seem indecisive (Roadstead Montessori High School, n.d.). However, this confusing state that adolescents experience is called ambivalence which refers to the positive and negative emotions that occur in a parent-child relationship (Tighe et al., 2016). This Latin term consists two prefixes who are ambi and Valentia; Ambi means both and Valentia means strength (Roadstead Montessori High School, n.d.). Historically, according to Eugene Bleuler, ambivalence refers to a psychological syndrome (Roadstead Montessori High School, n.d.). Despite the varied definition, the terminology signifies the complex and contradicting process that an adolescent experiences during the transitional period. It is essential to understand this term ambivalence because of the possible long-lasting detrimental effects that adolescents may experience in their life. For instance, teenagers are vulnerable to depression; they may experience their first depressive episode during this period (Tighe et al., 2016). Moreover, this affects their relationship with other individuals. For example, individuals who experience ambivalence are more likely to obtain depressive symptoms, declined health and lower life satisfaction (Tighe et al., 2016). Particularly, high ambivalence is due to their heavy dependence on their parents and lack of independence (Tighe et al., 2016). Although, the outcome of ambivalence varies between each parent. For instance, individuals who

7 report high ambivalence towards their mother are likely to obtain symptoms of depression over time (Tighe et al., 2016). This is due to frequent contact in which increases ambivalence (Tighe et al., 2016). Whereas, individuals who report high ambivalence towards their father obtained less depressive symptoms over time (Tighe et al., 2016). In other words, high ambivalence is due to the imbalance between independence and closeness (Tighe et al., 2016). Thus, the concept of ambivalence enables individuals to develop strategies to emphasize in which increases affective solidarity and reduce ambivalence (Tighe et al., 2016). For instance, older adults consider ambivalence as a maladaptation instead of a normal development for adolescents (Tighe et al., 2016). This is problematic because teenagers will not be able to feel comfortable with speaking to an adult because they might not understand their situation. In other words, older adults will minimize or disregard their opinion due to the assumption that adolescents are unable to form a consistent opinion. Hence, it is important to encourage adults to recognize the positive aspects as well as re-evaluate their expectations in which allows them to support adolescent’s development (Tighe et al., 2016). Moreover, this permits adolescents to analyze various perspectives in order to make a suitable decision for a particular situation. References Roadstead Montessori High School. (n.d). How Ambivalence Empowers Teenagers. https://roadsteadhighschool.com/how-ambivalence-empowers-teenagers/ Tighe, L. A., Birditt, K. S., & Antonucci, T. C. (2016). Intergenerational ambivalence in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for depressive symptoms over time. Developmental psychology, 52(5), 824–834. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0040146

Asexuality Stela Stoyanova I have chosen the word “Asexuality” as my keyword for the purpose of this assignment. I feel that Asexuality is a pertinent term in regards to the maintenance of health during the time of adolescence because it is a relatively unspoken of topic, but it is something that millions of adolescents will come to experience. The definition of Asexuality is that of a person who feels little to no sexual attraction or desire. Oppositely, an Allosexual is a person who does experience sexual attraction. Most people identify as Allosexual, to a greater or lesser degree, however I would have personally adored to have the identity of Asexual be explained to me when I was a teenager. I found, as the alumni of a small town Catholic school, that sex, sexuality, gender, and identity were always explained to me in one of two ways: either the explanation was terribly conservative, unhelpful, centred around controlling women, and overly vague; or the explanations were so awfully sex positive that it turned me off those sorts of relationships altogether. There was no happy medium, and no exploration of the varying degrees of sexual desire and their assorted identities. As an example, an Aesexual will not be the sort of person to find someone sexually attractive and therefore pursue romantic affairs with them. This is not to say that Asexuals do not engage in romantic affairs. A favourite example of mine, for romantic Asexual relationships, is the identity of Bambii Lesbians. These are lesbians who are in love but do not need or desire sexual intercourse. An Asexual may be sexually active, whether for the purposes of expressing love through sexual intercourse, or due to the desire of having children, etc. Asexuality is very rare. Only about 1% of the world’s population is Asexual. Nevertheless, that amounts to over 78 million people. Asexuality also comes in varying degrees. There are Asexuals who never wish to engage in sexual activities and feel no libido, there are asexuals who do experience libido but prefer to take care of their needs themselves; there are even Asexuals who will eventually experience sexual attraction, after a long and deeply connected relationship has been established. These Asexuals may label themselves as Graysexuals or Demisexuals, which are forms of Asexuality (because Asexuality, just like being Transgender, is an umbrella term with various sub-identities). It is important to note that Asexuality is different than Aromanticism. Aromanticism is the absence of the desire to have a romantic partner. People may be both Aromantic and Asexual and simply not want neither sex nor romantic love, or an Aromantic may be Allosexual and not desire committed relationships. On the subject of history, the term Asexual seems to have been coined in the 1970s, but obviously such as all sex and gender identities, Asexuality has always existed. I believe that the

11 keyword of Asexuality will help us understand the experiences of young people and benefit youth’s development and health because it will validate an underrepresented identity. Who knows, perhaps in the same way that there are suddenly more people identifying with being LGBTQ+ (of which Asexuality is a member of, hence the plus sign), more adults in future will feel comfortable with identifying themselves as Graysexual, Asexual, etc. There is actually a stigma around men who identify as being Ace (short term for Asexual), in that some sexists deem these men as being inherintly less masculine. This is of course untrue. It is for these reasons, among many others, that I believe Asexuality needs more representation, and have thus chosen it as my keyword.

Works Cited The gray area, sex and related discussions. Asexual Visibility and Education Network. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.asexuality.org/en/forum/72-the-gray-area-sexand-related-discussions/ Non-academic source (website for the Asexual community) Copulsky, D., & Hammack, P. L. (2021, December 17). Asexuality, Graysexuality, and demisexuality: Distinctions in desire, behavior, and identity. Asexuality, Graysexuality, and Demisexuality: Distinctions in Desire, Behavior, and Identity. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2021.2012113 Academic source (published article from The Journal of Sex Research)

Ate Pragathay Krishnan Link to video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NkafRMeUDs1V5NTTQwQ8SN77Rso9bokC/view?usp=share_ link

Bangtan Sonyeondan/ Beyond the Scene (BTS) Aaliyah Balkaran BTS is a South Korean boy band that debuted on June 13, 2013. The group consists of seven members, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The meaning behind the group’s name Bangtan Sonyeondan literally translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts”, but it signifies “to block out stereotypes, criticism, and expectations that aim at adolescents like bullets” (J-Hope). In 2017 they broke into the international scene and rebranded as Beyond the Scene to represent growth from adolescents to now “adults opening the doors that are facing to go forward” (RM). BTS is a group that represents to the fans that everyone should be accepted regardless of societal barriers. BTS is important to the study of adolescents and health because the group aims to promote the struggles of youths, whether that be through personal life, school life, or figuring out who they are as individuals. They focus on representing youths through their music as a way to communicate with their fans on a personal level and convey a positive message. Their fans are called ARMY which stands for Adorable Representative MC for Youths. They give their fans a voice, which many youths are afraid to have, they speak their mind for those who cannot. They are sincere in their music to their fans appreciating them and giving them an outlet to turn to when they feel the world is against them. BTS helps us understand the experience of young people because those that listen to their music have similar situations of understanding what it means to stand out. BTS’ music covers topics such as mental health, they share their own experiences with their fans. They normalize and destigmatize society's outlook on mental health, showing the fans that nothing is wrong with them even if they struggle with it. We can understand the young people that listen to BTS through the music that it portrayed, and through the messages that resonate with them. BTS has strived to be the connecting point for youth and their struggles, helping them to cope with accepting themselves and their differences. BTS relates to youth’s health and well-being through the messages that they present to their fans, to love yourself and be yourself no matter what may set you apart from others. No one is the same, everyone is unique in their own way and their music reflects that in a positive manner. Although BTS is a boy band they are a group of individuals that listen to the worries, struggles, and hardships of youths, giving them a welcoming environment to go to when they have no one or nowhere to go. They have created music for healing, identity, and well-being that connects

14 fans to themselves on a deeper and personal degree. ARMY (fans) can better understand who they are as an individual through the music that represents them. BTS speak for many youths that have no way to express how they feel, they give them a medium that is the fans, where they can appreciate all that life has given them and accept themselves. Sources: Blady. (2021). BTS from “N.O” to “ON” and BEyond: Innovation in Effective Mental Health Messaging and Modelling. ASIA MARKETING JOURNAL, 22(4), 117–149. https://doi.org/10.15830/amj.2020.22.4.117 BTS. (2018, August 24). LOVE MYSELF. YouTube. BIGHIT MUSIC. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mwRYgMmSGE

Based Caroline Santos Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76a0x_Za5bs

Basic Diana Mirceta The word “basic” has a completely different meaning to adolescent’s today. Traditionally, we’d used the word “basic” as an adjective to describe something that is fundamental, essential, or primary. Adolescents today hold a completely new meaning for the word “basic”. The term has gained traction among youth, where popular culture has heavily influenced it’s use, and social media has provided the platform for which we see it so often thrown around. To an adolescent, this is a label no one wants to be associated with. The word “basic” now refers to an individual who is ordinary or bland and prefers mainstream products. If you’re basic, you’re a person with no unique qualities; simply a sheep among a massive flock, following every trend. A racial and gender stereotype has evolved from the word “basic”, where the phrases “basic white girl” and “basic bitch” are predominately being used in conversation. A female’s taste in clothing, products, or interests, that conforms to the most ordinary stereotypes or trends is labelled a “basic bitch”. Consequently, the word has typically been associated with insulting teenage girls. “Basic white girls” are girls that drink pumpkin spice lattes, wear Ugg boots, and take selfies. During my high school experience – nearly 10 years ago – I can recall this word being tossed around, and honestly the aversion to the word still remains prevalent in my mind. I can see how one simple word can mean so much to an adolescent, as I myself have found it affected my decisions back when I was younger. It’s hard to filter through the influence of pop culture, and even the micro culture of an individual high school, as the environment an adolescent is surrounded by will ultimately affected their mental well-being. So what’s so bad about being ordinary? To an adolescent, it may mean everything. It might mean the difference between happiness and depression. The whirlwind of emotions a developing adolescent experiences is heavily influenced by what they see in the media and the interactions

17 with their peers. Throughout their teenage years, adolescents go through so many developmental stages and unique experiences, especially during their time in high school. This is the time when they gain more independence and work to try to “find themselves”. Being labelled as basic to a teen may be a much harder blow than we (as adults) may realize. I find that the importance for adults, especially teachers, to be more attuned to the culture of a high school and the internal struggles of students, is vital and something I will be especially careful to consider as I progress through my career. Academic Reference Bucholtz, M. (2010). White Kids: Language, Race, and Styles of Youth Identity. Cambridge University Press. https://books.google.ca/books?id=mtqrQIzIM4wC

Non-Academic Reference Schroeder, S. (2019). Next Level Basic: The Definitive Basic Bitch Handbook. Gallery Books.

BBL Nicole Garibaldi ‘BBL’ is an acronym for the world's most dangerous, yet most popular cosmetic procedure in the twenty-first century, which is the ‘Brazilian Butt lift”. The Brazilian Butt lift is a procedure where surgeons will use liposuction to retrieve all the stomach fat from a patient, and then proceed to use that fat towards enlarging the patient’s buttock. (Segen's Medical Dictionary, 2011). Brazilian But lifts are well known throughout the world, especially on social media outlets. Society idolizes the ‘perfect body type’ which is a a super small waist, a flat stomach along with a large butt. The pressure of comparison and unrealistic body standards which the media sets for adolescents contribute to the bad mental health that adolescents go through. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Cardi B, etc, set false body standards for young adolescents. Celebrities and Instagram influencers preach this idea of looking fake. This includes wearing heavy makeup to plastic surgery to keep this certain image. To further expand, influencers illuminate the idea of having a perfect perky butt along with a perfect chest and super flat stomach. Not only is the procedure famous on Instagram, but the ‘BBL’ is also popular on TikTok, which alone the hashtag #BBL has over 7 billion views. This growing phenomenon on TikTok encourages young people to undergo dangerous procedures just to fit into society and to be the “It girl” on social networking apps. The term ‘BBL’ helps us understand the experiences that adolescents go through just to keep up with being ‘perfect’ in society. This justifies the claim that societal pressures severely impact adolescents’ mental health. This ideal perfect body goes against individuals' genetics and a healthy relationship with food. Which results in depriving their body or exceeding the usage of food to meet the criteria of a perfect body. This mentality can lead to eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. The ideology of starving oneself gives false hope to adolescents' motives to look like society’s perception of an ‘Instagram model’ or even to become ‘TikTok’ famous.

Qualitative research conducted sought to determine the influence of cosmetic surgery such as ‘BBLs' amongst young people. This data focused on how young people are greatly influenced to get cosmetic surgery due to social media platforms. Research collected through a questionnaire survey suggested that young people would be influenced by individuals on social media to get cosmetic work done just to boost their self-esteem (Arab et al., 2019). Plastic surgery is very accessible nowadays, as people can catch a flight to foreign countries to afford them at a cheaper price. This raises great concern for adolescents, as some of them may risk their lives undergoing surgery to get a ‘BBL’ as it is one of the riskiest surgeries in the world. All in all, this unrealistic body shape sets false expectations for adolescents and puts pressure on them to uphold an impossible physique. This implausible notion teaches adolescents that they must not embrace their natural beauty, but get work done to solve their imperfections. Thus, it is crucial to enlighten adolescents that social media is a false reality and does not allow millennials to express their natural beauty. Bibliography Arab, K., Barasain, O., Altaweel, A., Alkhayyal, J., Alshiha, L., Barasain, R., Alessa, R., & Alshaalan, H. (2019). Influence of Social Media on the Decision to Undergo a Cosmetic Procedure. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 7(8), e2333. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002333 Brazilian Butt Lift. (n.d.) Segen's Medical Dictionary. (2011). Retrieved November 2 2022 from https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Brazilian+Butt+Lift Market Place, S. L. (2021). Bbl photo . photograph. Sadideen, H., Akhavani, M. A., Mosahebi, A., & Harris, P. A. (2020). Current perceptions of ‘Brazilian butt lift’ (BBL) surgery in the UK: A BAAPS-led survey of BAAPS members. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 73(11), 1966–1975. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.bjps.2020.08.068 Scoop, S. (2020). Eye Photo. photograph.

BeReal. Amanda Di Petta BeReal is one of the newest social media apps that everyone is raging about. The purpose of the app is to provide users with unfiltered and “real’ representations of their friends’ daily lives. Once a day, at a specific time, users are sent a notification indicating that they have two minutes to capture a BeReal. When the app is opened, the user has two minutes to tap the capture button after which it takes a photo from both the front and back cameras. If users miss the two-minute window or retakes the photo this information is shared on the post. The app also restricts view of other users’ posts until you have posted your own. BeReal posts reset daily and while users can keep track or refer back to their own posts, they cannot view previous posts of other users. This term is relevant to adolescent development and health due to the major role social media plays in life today. Many of the common social medias such as Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok etc., are filled with the pressures of filters and perfectionism- having to look, act and live and certain way. Social media is often built on the concept that validation can only be found through likes, shares, and the number of followers you have. The pressures of social media can often lead to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and dysmorphia among many others. The purpose of this app is to embrace one’s natural and authentic self, and many users are doing exactly that. BeReal, provides a platform for adolescence to authentically post themselves knowing that their friends will be doing the same. BeReal does not focus on followers or likes, and the lack of a profile page relieves the pressure of keeping a perfect social media image that is often felt by adolescence when using other platforms. This platform could potentially lead to a healthier relationship between adolescence and social media with less performance fatigue and “more fun”. Often there is a pressure to be on social media all the time to keep from missing out on new content, however, the design of BeReal -one synchronized post a day- allows for that pressure to subside. The scheduled postings may also contribute to decreasing screen time which has become a growing issue with adolescence especially in correlation to their sleep patterns and mental health. Overall BeReal has gained popularity amongst adolescence for its revival of a relaxed form of media. The app has made many changes to the social media world that provide a safer, healthier environment for its users and adolescence especially however, it is not perfect. Some users withhold from posting during the notification period and post at a later time when they have something exciting going but some genuinely just miss the notification due to everyday commitments. Despite the very real possibility that a post was late for a valid reason, users can be categorized as “fake” or untruthful. With this being said, the concept and values behind the BeReal app, have the possibility to positively affect adolescent development and health but there still is much research needed to perfect it.

21 For more information on adolescent health and development and BeReal.: https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com https://journals.sagepub.com https://sproutsocial.com/glossary/bereal/ https://thspublications.com

BeReal Gabriel Wee Tom BeReal. What does it mean to be real, and how can we ask our adolescents to be real when we’re rarely ever real ourselves? The keyword “BeReal” functions as a word with a double-meaning. BeReal is a social-media photo-sharing app, but the term is also a rallying cry for people (and especially youth) to be more “authentic” and show their “true selves”. This keyword can be analyzed through a variety of lens that relate to adolescents and their health. This includes the use of the app itself, the extremely new and understudied effects that social media has on teen mental health, the social pressure to post and broadcast one’s life via social media, and exploring what it means to “be real” as a youth still forming their identity. BeReal is a social media app that sends all of its users a prompt to take two simultaneous photos (one rear camera, one front camera) of whatever they’re doing once a day, at a different time each day. This prompt lasts for just two minutes, allowing users to show their true, authentic selves by not giving them time to prepare, curate, or filter their posts. As with most social media apps, this photo is then sent to your followers’ accounts, in the same way that it is delivered on Snapchat. BeReal was first created in 2020, but gained major popularity in 2022, and it is especially popular with teenagers/adolescents. Unlike Instagram, which can be considered someone’s highly edited and posed “highlight reel”, BeReal aims to show the mundane, average, “regular” parts of people’s lives. Another way that this term relates to our youth is that we really don’t know about the effects that social media has on the brain, at least not yet. Yes, there are a number of preliminary studies that suggest social media can be damaging to the adolescent brain, but we don’t know how much. How does this app and others like it affect mental health? Addiction? Self-esteem and our sense of belonging? The bottom line is that there isn’t much in history that we can draw upon to answer this question, and the pressure to be fake for validation as opposed to “being real” is a serious concern. One more reason that BeReal is a relevant term to the study of adolescence is the fact that we as adults often pressure teens to “be real” without necessarily being real ourselves. It seems a bit ridiculous to preach that being real is what, evolving, ever-changing teens should be. Instead, it may be useful to instead encourage them to find out who they are and experiment, that way they can eventually discover what it means to be true to themselves. During a time when growth, insecurity, experimentation, and uncertainty plague the teenage brain, pressuring our youth be anything, including “being real” is not a fair proposal. Maybe instead of telling our kids what to do and to “be real”, we can instead opt to just let them be. Academic source (from York Omni): Hutchinson, A. (2022). BeReal Rises to 10 Million Daily Active Users. Social Media Today, https://ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/tradejournals/bereal-rises-10-million-daily-active-users/docview/2708679360/se-2 Other source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6RyIGLJXAM

BeReal Annalyssa Schreck BeReal. Who is real and who isn’t? Are you for real? Be ready to capture whatever you’re doing in five minutes or else your friends will be notified you posted late! This is “Not another social media network”... oh the irony. BeReal is targeting youth with their slogan that they are an outlier from other social media networks, and that you will build a more realistic repertoire of yourself in the eye of social media. This app preys on the fact that youth have the knowledge that social media platforms have toxic effects on the brain. Adolescent’s perception of the self can be skewed when they go on instagram and other photo sharing platforms and see heavily edited and modified highlight reels of other people, so BeReal came out as a way to show unedited photos captured at random times of the day to show a more realistic representation of your friends’ days. BeReal operates by having an array of friends much like every other social media app, and at random times of the day, you get a notification saying “it's time to BeReal! You have five minutes to post what you are doing”. You then take a front facing photo and a back camera facing photo as a way to show what you look like and what is in front of you/ what you are doing. The image then gets posted for all of your friends to see, where people can “react” to your image by replying with a photo of their faces showing an expression to represent how they feel about your photo. BeReal is extremely controversial with their slogan as it really is another social media network to suck adolescents in. Instagram, twitter, snapchat, tiktok, youtube and whatsapp are amongst some of the most popular apps and they do not require a time restraint of five minutes to complete something or else you get publicly shamed for doing so. BeReal will also notify friends how many times you retook a photo, in a way shaming individuals for retaking an image. BeReal is invading a lot of privacy with individuals by showing their surroundings and demanding that the photo is taken within a certain time frame. People have already found loopholes to use this app to support their “picture perfect” image online by waiting to take the photo at a time that they are doing something exciting to show that they aren’t “boring” for doing everyday normal activities like sleeping, doing homework, being in class, or simply relaxing on the couch. This is causing an encroachment on everyday life for adolescents, as they feel penalized for not taking their BeReal photo on time if they are not by their phones,

24 causing an even heavier reliance on the use of technological devices. What if they are in the shower? Or are they studying for a big exam away from their phones? This will result in a largely negative impact on adolescents' mental health, but also their safety/privacy, and their productivity/ability to be away from their phones for a period of time because they don’t want to miss the BeReal notification. References Academic source: Gaden, G., & Dumitrica, D. (2014). The ‘real deal’: Strategic authenticity, politics and social media. First Monday. https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v20i1.4985 Non academic source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4buUX2LfriE https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/27/bereal-app-curated-social-media-gen- z/ https://www.newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/bereal-and-the-fantasy-of-an-authentic-onlin elife

Binge Eating Disorder Arsil Darouiche

Academic Article: Marzilli E, Cerniglia L, Cimino S. A narrative review of binge eating disorder in adolescence: prevalence, impact, and psychological treatment strategies. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2018 Jan 5;9:17-30. doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S148050. PMID: 29379325; PMCID: PMC5759856. Non-Academic:Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Binge eating disorder. In Merriam-Webster.com medical dictionary. Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://www.merriamwebster.com/medical/binge%20e ating%20disorder Non-Academic: The following short film was created by WebMD starring Robert Miller. He shows us a glance of his life living with BED and the struggles he faces. YouTube. (2015). A First-Person Account of Binge Eating Disorder | WebMD. YouTube. Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=NPgHu2Lup94&ab_channel=W ebMD.

Bipolar Miranda Marschalk Bipolar used to be called Manic- Depression until 1980. The meaning of Bipolar is the switching between mood of manic excitement and depression on a somewhat regular basis. It is a mental health illness tha causes unusual shifts in mood and it interferers with the ability to carry out day to day activities and tasks. Bipolar usually starts around age 24 but may be present between ages 12 and 40 years of age. Females are more prone to this illness then men and approximately 3.3 percent of females and 2.6 percent of males are affected between the ages of 12 to 19. This word is important to me as I suffer from Bipolar disorder and I didn’t notice till my late 20’s that I started showing symptoms as young as 15 years of age. Adolescence is a very tough time in an individual’s life. Trying to fit in, in a new environment (Middle or High School). Trying to figure out who you are, dealing with peer pressure and isolation just to name a few of the obstacles Adolescence face. If you add Bipolar to an Adolescence list, things suddenly become that more challenging. Not to mention that signs and symptoms can be missed and hormones are raging at this age and the responsibility of one odd actions fall on them. Mood swings are quite normal in adolescence who are going through puberty. As is some amount of depression especially in females dealing with the onset of menstruation. And life for a teen becomes that much harder to navigate. Couple that with trying drugs and alcohol (which often happens during this stage of life) and possibly starting to date. You have a disaster in the making on your hands. I found my teen years difficult at best. The most challenging event was when I tried to jump in front of a moving car the second after my boyfriend dumped me. I knew then that something was not right. It would be ten more years of intense mood swings before I was given the diagnosis of Bipolar 1. There are 2 types of Bipolar. Bipolar 1 (manic and depressive phases) and Bipolar 2 (major depressive phase’(s)) lasting one month or more. Why is this word so important to me? Well, If I had known in my adolescence that I had Bipolar 1 I could have had therapy and possibly medication (which I take now and for the past 30 years) that could have improved my mental state. Which has led me down many a dark path. We as teacher need to look for signs that a student is struggling more than what would be considered normal for tat age. We need to take a bigger interest in our student lives outside of the classroom as well. We need to stop letting our students slip through the cracks. Mary J. Wilk, 2019Sorrentino’s Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker, Elsevier Canadian Mental Health Association, 180 Dundas Street West, Suite 2301, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1Z8, 416-977-5580

Bisexual Isabella Giorgio The word is BISEXUAL… In the LGBTQ+ acronym, the B stands for bisexual. The word bisexual describes a person who is attracted to more than one gender. Prior to the current meaning, the definition of bisexual has been changed many times for example some believed it meant only being attracted to men and women, which excluded non-binary people. Throughout history this word has taken on many meanings. In 1859 it was first used to describe a person who we would now call intersex, having both male and female anatomy. Similarly, it was then used to describe someone who embodied male and female characteristics which is known as androgyny. When the concept of being queer was becoming more talked about people generally used the term gay, lesbian, or just heterosexual even if they were attracted to multiple genders. In the late 1900s there was debate over the fact that the word ‘bi’-sexual meant that there are only two genders, this is when pansexual became what people felt was a more inclusive term. Though today both terms co-exist and are not exclusionary to any gender. Bisexual erasure describes the experiences of bisexuals being diminished or inferior to that of homosexuals. Often people who identify as this feel unwelcome or discriminated in LGBTQ+ spaces. Bisexual people have always existed even though their experiences and stories may not be at the forefront of LGBTQ+ narritives. As time goes on, we can see more representation in media. Since the definition of bisexual is often misunderstood it is important that there are resources young people can visit to feel seen and understood with the feelings that they are experiencing. It is sometimes seen that even adults who are understanding and accepting of LGBTQ+ youth, may be uncomfortable or confused by the bisexual definition. Education on this word and its meaning is important since there is a gap in recognition. As the feelings of a youth who is bisexual may not be as clear cut as being homosexual it is important that caring adults and LGBTQ+ organizations have healthy and appropriate resources as there is much misinformation on the internet. According to statistics Canada between the years of 2015-2018 there were 900,000 people who identified as either gay, lesbian, or trans: almost half of them being bisexual (and approximately 33% of them being under 25). This shows that bisexual youth are not rare, they are important and deserve to be understood. Navigating feelings of attraction both sexual and romantic can be challenging when growing up so defining and understanding words like bisexual help people to shed light on the experiences of these youth. By educating as much as we can, we thereby pass on that information for generations to come ultimately landing in a place where bisexual people and all other LGBTQ+ people are just as normal as anyone else and are treated equitably. Though it is important to acknowledge that bisexuals face more discrimination compared to other sexual identities, “research also indicates that bi people are also more likely to experience poor mental health, in part because of this erasure and discrimination” (Rhodes, 2022). Youth deserve to know that there is nothing wrong with being bisexual. They deserve representation, understanding, and supportive communities.

28 Academic and Non-Academic Resources for More Information on Bisexuality Academic https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wjbi20/current#.UaDtKOse5Xk journal of bisexuality Non-academic https://www.torontobinet.org/ https://stillbi.org/

Blunt Maysun Arcand

Blunt (noun): Refers to smoking marijuana/cannabis in the form of a cigar. Typically, a blunt can be rolled using tobacco leaf wrappers or the tobacco from inside a cigar is emptied and replaced with marijuana/cannabis. The importance of the word blunt in relation to the study of adolescence and health has transformed over time with generations and means something different to each. Focussing particularly on adolescence today, blunts and marijuana use in general holds a different tone. With marijuana/cannabis recently being legalized in Ontario to people of age (19 and older) and not to mention the tremendous growth in dispensaries all over the province, accessibility has been less of a hurdle and the activity itself has been more openly accepted within society and is less taboo. With that being said, smoking blunts for recreational purposes which tend to be the more popular reason for their use and often the reason to start amongst adolescence has become less taboo and almost a stereotype or cultural norm associated with this generation. It has taken part in becoming an activity to participate in that is socially fueled and brings people together; forms this sense of community. Now this isn’t to say that blunts are not used on a solitary basis and it is important to also address some of the reasons as to why youth smoke aside from recreation and what affects this may have on their well-being and development. Marijuana use amongst adolescence can often be associated with a method to relieve stress and anxiety, a way to feel better, a way to help with social connections, etc. Other times it is just the feeling that it provides that can keep youth participating in its use, but this is where consistent and regular participation becomes problematic to adolescent health and overall well-being. Marijuana/cannabis is often referred to as the ‘gate-way’ drug and to a degree this holds some validity. Due to its increased accessibility, adolescence are more exposed to trying it and picking up the habit of smoking which can transform into an addiction or form a dependence that could be masking an issue and possibly contributing to it rather than addressing its source. The word blunt is related to youth’s health and well-being because it is a word that is used and associated so heavily with mental health and although often it is only seen as a recreational drug, it represents something more to adolescence which may also be unconscious. Mental health has become more recognized and acknowledged over the past couple of decades and is being recognized as a crisis within society that has also heavily affected youth in ways that we are becoming more aware of. Smoking a blunt is a way of coping, it is a way of connecting, it is a way of growing up, it is a way of healing, it is possibly the only way some youth know how to help themselves and it may also be an easier solution to an issue they are experiencing. A blunt represents a community, it represents a dire need to address and provide resources to youth and that support them in navigating mental health and their overall well-being. A blunt is also a part of youth pop culture and has found its way into the realm of “cool” and what it means to be a young adult navigating the world and themselves. In pop culture, a blunt represents a “vibe” that is associated with peace, relaxation, a way to numb oneself from reality that is ‘natural’. It is the symbol of a carefree mindset and given the atmosphere of today’s society and all that takes place in the world, a blunt presents itself as an attractive escape. For about 10$/gram, the almost guarantee of a new perspective and momentary escape seems to be too good of a deal to pass up. Throw on some music, lay back, spark the blunt, and let it take your mind somewhere beyond right now.

Academic Resource(s): Golub, A., Johnson, B. D., & Dunlap, E. (2006). The Growth in Marijuana Use Among American Youths During the 1990s and the Extent of Blunt Smoking. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 4(3–4), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1300/J233v04n03_01 https://resolver-scholarsportal-info.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/resolve/15332640/v4i34/1_tgimuaateobs.xml Kelly, B. C. (2006). Bongs and Blunts. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 4(3–4), 81–97. https://doi.org/10.1300/J233v04n03_04 https://resolver-scholarsportal-info.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/resolve/15332640/v4i34/81_bab.xml Non-academic Resource(s): “Good Times” — Styles P (Album: A Gangsta and a Gentleman) | Released: 2002 | Genre: Hip Hop/Rap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fJZbBcDsRQ Website that provides brief information and images https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alchimiaweb.com%2Fbl ogen%2Foriginsblunts%2F&psig=AOvVaw3KjssItzg0zeVwwKeN7cgQ&ust=1667907970605000&sour ce=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjRxqFwoTCOiA8s7_m_sCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD “Seth Rogan and Snoop Dogg Get High and Talk Chronic” https://hypebeast.com/2014/6/seth-rogen-and-snoop-dogg-get-high-and-talk-chronic

Blunt Natalie Vani

34 The keyword I chose is Blunt, Adolescents as young as 12 are experimenting and abusing weed. Through my comic I have shown a young student experiencing exposure to a blunt and how students do peer pressure other students into smoking. Not only does this student get peer pressured to smoke but also gets judged by the students that don’t smoke blunts. Stoltz AD, Sanders BD. Cigar and Marijuana Use: Their Relationship in Teens. The Journal of School Nursing. 2000;16(4):28-35. doi:10.1177/105984050001600404 C. (2019). Define Blunt. Urban dictionary. https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Blunt

Body Count Kaamila Lall Body count or bodies is a term used by adolescents to convey their sexual partners. I find that this word can be very detrimental to how youth portray their sexual partners as body counts are usually used about death in wars, pandemics, genocides, and many more. This term separates the person they are being intimate with from their actual physical body. Although not as common, this is a violent metaphor that can also be related to the number of people a person has killed. Due to the popularity of TikTok youth starting at the pre-adolescence age, they hear this term, which is then brought into schools and social groups. Since this has been circulating on TikTok it has become a big social media trend where people are asking strangers and their classmates in school for their body count numbers. The term is yet another aspect in the lives of youth to perpetuate gender stereotypes in the context of sex. In this case, when a girl or woman has a large “body count” she is seen in a negative light and is used to shame her; however, when a boy or man has the same number or greater, other boys applaud him for his ‘conquest’. This is yet another way to continue the age-old view that heterosexual men can conquer women. In the non-academic video shared below, we can see that in a high school, when boys share that their “body count” is zero, they are laughed at, giving male youth unrealistic pressure to “perform” in a certain way. Upon further research of the term, I came across a video where a group of women and men seemingly in their early twenties titled “Why men can have high body counts and women can’t”. The first question asked by the men directed towards the women was, “would you like a guy that is seasoned” throughout the video, the man asking the question was referring to the woman's sexual partners as meat, for example saying words such as raw, medium rare, and well done. When adolescents view this content, it is automatically absorbed without much

36 critical thought. Not only is the term creating a separation between flesh and person, but it also allows people to compare people to meat. This term overall has a very negative effect on impressionable adolescents because it does not allow them to understand the relationships that can create with others if that is what they desire. As well, it gives them a false sense of what sex is. Concerning Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi, we can see how much adolescents strive to fit in such as the many times Marjane changed depending on where she lived. In this case, youth can reach content from around the world every day, resulting in youth wanting to fit into the online trends. There is an underlying pressure for youth to have intercourse with as many “bodies” as possible to add a tick to their running list. About Inside Lives by Margot Waddell, we can infer from the text that even unborn children are able to bring their experiences throughout their lives without consciously knowing. This means that adolescents being surrounded by this term will stay with them in their subconscious and affect the way they see intimacy in their formative years. This can help explain why adolescents seem to be growing up faster than they had in the past. They are constantly surrounded by sexrelated content at younger ages that are not healthy ways to talk about sex. Regarding health, the question of consent and sexual health is very important when discussing this term. When the majority of education they are provided about sexual health is from their phones and other youth, they are being subjected to the falsity of sexual activity. To conclude, the term “body count” is very harmful to building relations with others, romantically and otherwise. Non Academic Resource: https://www.tiktok.com/@billcosbypremiumsnap/video/7128923232387829038?is_copy _url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=body%20count&t=1667761001360 Academic Resource:

37 Jones, Stephanie. “UGA Professor: Teens Now Describe Their Sexual Encounters as 'Body Counts'.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 3, 2019. https://www.ajc.com/blog/get-schooled/uga-professor-teens-now-describe-their-sexualencounters-body-counts/YIfRdwz8i1K3ziUzebQ8UN/.

Body Dysmorphia Christina Laprocina Body Dysmorphia or Body Dysmorphic Disorder is referred to as a psychiatric condition where individuals sense “flaws” in their appearance when in reality an objective spectator would not share the same perception. The disorder is explained to be common with about 2% of the general population having it, making it more shared than schizophrenia or anorexia nervosa. It is said to appear evenly in both sexes. (Veale and Bewley, pg.1). For young girls, Body Dysmorphia takes the form of feeling overweight, even though they are not. For adolescent boys, this condition is more common with feelings of being preoccupied that their body is too small and not muscular enough, relating to the term Muscle Dysmorphia. Moreover, the History of Body Dysmorphia is described by the BDD Foundation as first recognized in 1981. This may be shocking to many individuals considering most people believe body dysmorphia is a more recent term. The idea was derived from, “the Greek word “dysmorphophobia,” in 1891 which is a term meaning misshapenness or ugliness” (BDD Foundation, para 2). Although the disorder is a serious psychiatric condition, it is represented to mental health services less frequently, unless there are added issues such as depression or a risk of suicide. Furthermore, this word helps us understand the experiences of young people considering Body Dysmorphia is something that can occur during puberty, as youth’s bodies are going through a lot of mental and physical changes. Body Dysmorphia can stay with an individual for an immense amount of time if it is not dealt with. Social media definitely does not help when it comes to Body Dysmorphia, as many young adults may go on Instagram or any other popular platform and compare themselves to their favourite celebrity or influencer. This relates to Waddell’s notions in “Inside Lives,” when she describes that an adolescent may not be willing to

39 share their feelings and may decide to manage the condition on their own. They may feel silly for their intense emotions. Due to these consequences, it is important as future educators to be cautious when it comes to youth in our classrooms. We do not know what intrusive thoughts can occur in their minds, and thus, must be willing to change our study of adolescents to the ways we can be more inclusive and accepting of the extreme livelihood of youth. In addition, Body Dysmorphia is relative to an adolescent’s health and well-being considering the most extreme cases of this condition can lead to depression, and in the worstcase suicide. It is significant for youth to feel comfortable and love their bodies, although that is unfortunately not always the case. For individuals with BDD, it is relevant to seek help from doctors and undergo behavioural therapy. The focus of this type of therapy is to uphold engagement and to alternate feelings of distress and interference in one’s life (Veale and Bewley, pg.4). This allows adolescents that are suffering to create an understanding of the issue and reduce feelings of fixated attention and pondering over their condition.

Works Cited “History of BDD.” BDDF, https://bddfoundation.org/information/more-about-bdd/history-ofbdd/.

40 Veale, David, and Anthony Bewley. “Body Dysmorphic Disorder.” BMJ: British Medical Journal, vol. 350, 2015. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26522102. Accessed 3 Nov. 2022.

Body Dysmorphia Nicole Malovatski Body dysmorphia is a keyword central to the study of adolescence and health. In short, body dysmorphia is when someone visualizes their body as having specific flaws when the person themselves is the only one who sees these perceived flaws. A medical definition describes body dysmorphia “as a preoccupation with apparent defects in patient’s appearance which causes significant distress and impairment” (Himanshu et al., 2020, Introduction, para. 1). Historically, body dysmorphia was known as “dysmorphophobia” and generally meant that someone strongly believed they had a deformity (Hunt et al., 2008). Nowadays, young adults throw this term around a lot to the point where it does not even contain a medical interpretation when it is a mental health issue. Moreover, adolescents struggle with their identity. Most of the time, they try to mould themselves to fit into society’s standards, so they feel like they fit in with the majority. With social media dominating our worlds, teenagers often spend their time looking at creators and aspiring to look like them, act like them, and be them, including their appearance. Most do not realize that these images and videos undergo a lengthy editing process. They lead an entire population of young adults to believe how they look on social media is the norm and the beauty standard. As a result, when teenagers look in the mirror, they perceive themselves as “deformed” since they do not look like those on social media, mostly photoshopped and edited. This issue causes a lot of anxiety and hatred among youth regarding their appearance. When they look in the mirror, they never see themselves for their beauty and uniqueness; instead, they focus on the “flaws” they create. For instance, teenagers may look at themselves in the mirror and believe they are “fat” and “ugly” when they are healthy kids. These constant beliefs and judgments about

42 oneself result in many other issues like eating disorders, heavy dieting, self-harm, depression and more, which severely impact their well-being and development.

Body dysmorphia is also very common among adolescents. While it is more common in females, it is still heavily prevalent among males. Understanding this keyword and what it means helps us know what teenagers may be going through when they sit in your classroom looking drained, unfocused and unmotivated to learn. In addition, understanding this term supports teachers and aids them in containing their students regarding their mental health and well-being. One academic source that can educate everyone on body dysmorphia is an article published in the National Library of Medicine (2020). This article provides readers with a definition of the term and a case study assessing body dysmorphia among adolescents. Another interesting yet entertaining source that explains body dysmorphia comes from a comedy film called “White Chicks” (2004). In one scene, one of the characters is trying on clothes in a changing room when she instantly has a breakdown about her body and describes all of her flaws that only she believes she has. Despite this film being a comedy, this scene summarizes body dysmorphia since a relatively thin female strongly believes she is “fat” and breaks down.

43 Link to the scene from “White Chicks” (2004): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ZfpDNDCUY Overall, body dysmorphia is a critical key term regarding adolescence and health as it is one of the main contributions to youth’s mental health and well-being. Understanding this term can assist in containing teenagers and provide resources to help them recover.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Ivy Aflo Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) also known as body dysmorphia is a mental health condition defined as a preoccupation with an “imagined” defect in one's appearance. The word ‘dysmorphia’ comes from the Greek meaning misshapen or ugliness with one of the first known references dating back to the late 1800s by French psychiatrist Pierre Janet (Garnett, 2022). The preoccupation with a distorted body image causes time consuming rituals such as constant comparing, mirror glazing, seeking reassurance, hyper fixations on features being ‘ugly’ (Veale, 2003) when in reality they are perfectly normal. Body dysmorphia and its symptoms are extremely similar across genders often starting in the adolescent years when hormonal changes, school, social issues play a role in the lives of young people (Paradigm, 2022). Together with these risk factors, a young teens BDD can stem from psychological trauma such as bullying, social media influence especially in the most recent generations of adolescents and overall societal standards of beauty that have always favoured Eurocentric notions of beauty.

Adolescents experience an array of internal and external events throughout their development that shape the way they perceive themselves and their identity which in turn greatly influences their mental health. In the case of adolescent males, they more excessively experience a form of BDD named ‘Muscle dysmorphia’ which is preoccupation with being inadequately large and muscular (Garnet, 2022). Even further, males might focus on height, size and shape of their penis and hair (Garnett, 2022). Additionally, females may excessively focus on body parts such as their face, nose, skin and complexion and breast size (Academy, 2022). BDD is an important disorder to study in the lives of adolescent children because it is the age when symptoms start and can quite often be overlooked or passed over as ‘normal insecurities’ that young people go through. The problem with teen BDD is that it is heavier than insecurities as it involves absolute conviction in a poor or false body image often leading to extreme dieting or exercise regimens, social withdrawal, social anxiety and paranoia regarding the opinions of others in the face of a false sense of self (Paradigm, 2022). Furthermore, life-threatening health conditions can ensue as a result of lifestyle choices as a result of BDD such as malnutrition, disordered eating such as bulimia nervosa and addiction to steroids (Paradigm, 2022). In reality BDD allows us to watch adolescents closely as they evolve and cultivate connections with their bodies. It allows us to pinpoint the mentally unhealthy relationship young people have with the social construction of their bodies that can lead to a very dangerous obsession of their appearance that is solely negative. By and large, constant pressures presented by social media, marketing and advertisements that capitalise and target insecurities continue to apply pressures to beauty standards that affect every young person in some way. As an aspiring education in Health and Physical Activity and a background in Kinesiology and Health Science that has learned through a variety of courses and lived experiences, BDD and its barriers that affect body image will inevitably exist in varying degrees in the lives of adolescents. However, it is my job to ensure that their learning perspective is from the lens of self-love and positive-self-image. Merging barriers that they will go through in their navigation in identity with tools of resiliency, dedication and self-regulation will assist in their mental toughness as young adults travelling towards adulthood. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a subject that should be studied in more depth now more than ever.

45 References D, Veale, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, vol. 80, 67-71. London, UK: Review, 2003. https://pmj.bmj.com/content/postgradmedj/80/940/67.full.pdf

S. Garnett, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Men: What to Know and How it Differs. Silver Spring, MD, USA: Anxiety & Depression Association of America, 2022. https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/body-dysmorphic-disorderbdd-and-men-what-know-0

Paradigm Treatment, Body Dysmorphia in Teen and Young Adults. Los Angeles, USA: Paradigm Treatment Centres, LLC, 2022. https://paradigmtreatment.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorderteen-young-adult/body-dysmorphia/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/symptomscauses/syc-20353938

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Aaliyah Mohammed Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition where an individual will worry about their body. The individual perceives and thinks about defects and flaws in their appearance—some that are either minor or do not exist to other people (Mayo Clinic, 2022). But what does that have to do with adolescence and health? Interestingly, and unfortunately, BDD typically begins during adolescence, hence why this keyword is used to associate with that group. As a teen goes through puberty, they experience changes to their appearance and bodies. BDD starts when they obsess about their appearance and become overly critical about it, leading to distress and other severe disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia (Himanshu et al., 2020). BDD impacts each person differently, but the symptoms remain similarly detrimental to the person. BDD can lead to more than an eating disorder, such as obsessive disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disruption, social anxiety with the fear of not wanting to be seen by the public, and academic struggles can arise from BDD (Himanshu et al., 2020). Acknowledging and understanding BDD in adolescence opens opportunities for further studies on how to help them during a crucial time of development. It helps to stress the importance of adolescents!"relationships with their bodies, and how they can become mentally disturbed by what they see in the mirror. It challenges us to take other outlets, such as social media, into consideration when it comes to adolescents. This is because of the high impact social media can have on their mental well-being and how they perceive themselves. In a classroom full of adolescents who are going through these physical and mental changes together, it is beneficial to be cautious of how easily they can be influenced by social media and what they perceive to be the standard of beauty. This can also serve as a reminder that adolescence needs time to accept themselves. They can benefit from positive encouragement and acceptance from others and adults as adolescents experience this intense journey of discovering themselves. To learn more about BDD and how it impacts different sexes, an article on Teenage Body Dysmorphic Disorder by Newport Academy discusses how female adolescents are more prone to developing anorexia nervosa. It is another disorder that develops due to BDD because they will never be satisfied with their body image, despite the amount of weight they lose. For males, BDD mainly takes on the form of muscle dysmorphia. Instead of wanting to lose weight, BDD in males concerns them wanting to gain weight in the form of muscles. An article by Emily Hutto (2022) on muscle dysmorphia in males emphasizes that BDD affects them because the males compare themselves to muscular figures they see online and in movies. The males think they are not enough—that their bodies need more, and they become obsessed with gaining more muscles. A YouTube video provides an excellent and brief explanation of the psychology of muscle dysmorphia in males, and the video can be found by clicking on Figure 1. Figure 1

47 References Himanshu, Kaur, A., Kaur, A., & Singla, G. (2020). Rising dysmorphia among adolescents : A cause for concern. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 9(2), 567–570. https:// doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_738_19 Mayo Clinic. (2022). Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/ diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353938

BookTok Lina Favlo In today"s society, the adolescent world is most poignant online, since they spend most of their spare time staring at a screen for entertainment. Covid-19 delayed the release of visual content for television, film, music, and streaming platforms. This became a problem for the entertainment industry since people were consuming content quicker than new content could be produced and released. The Coronavirus pandemic created the possibility for adolescence to find another form of entertainment that could be taken offline. As a result, BookTok, a subculture of TikTok, became a place where youth were able to share their passion for reading or give opinions on literature with others. This was occurring at a time when gathering with others was impossible. BookTok became the unofficial, universal book club during the pandemic in 2020 and a space where adolescents could experience stories at the same time as each other. Users are able to share reviews and opinions on the same book, find recommendations for other titles, and discover other users who share an interest in the same genre or literary trope. BookTok"s influence has expanded from the online platform into bookstores (such as Indigo) with sections of their websites dedicated to popular books found in TikTok"s subculture. This also extends to the physical stores, where there are large tables lined with copies of the same books TikTok users see online. The creation of this corner of the online universe does not only promote going offline, but it encourages adolescents to feed their minds with the book content and get creative with the way they present their opinions online. Before the pandemic, reading might have been considered necessary or boring because it was associated with mandatory readings assigned by teachers in school. Reading during the pandemic got youth spending time away from their screens — a tool used in social media that can and does affect adolescents!"mental health. BookTok not only gives youth agency in choosing what they want to read, but it allows them to feel included and part of

49 a community. By creating a space online for a book club, BookTok users have not only modernized the idea of a book club (by taking it online) but have eliminated the boundaries of who can participate. The experience of discovering a new book is shared between thousands of people instead of the few in the surrounding area who may have an interest in reading. Even if someone from the same geographical area disliked the book, BookTok made it possible for young people to find someone online who shared their love of the book or that type of literature. References Falvo, E. [@emmmerrrss]. (2022, March 30). my dream guy- #fyp #aaronwarner #shatterme [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@emmmerrrss/video/7081022929508797701?is_from_webapp=v1&ite m_id=7081022929508797701 - - - - - - - (2022, February 28). saved my favourites for last #booktok [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@emmmerrrss/video/7069887726010600709?is_from_webapp=v1&ite m_id=7069887726010600709 - - - - - - - (2022, March 22). Reply to @milanakb2007 francis was prob my fav #thesecrethistory #donnatartt [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@emmmerrrss/video/7078041287819005189?is_from_webapp=v1&ite m_id=7078041287819005189 Jerasa, & Boffone, T. (2021). BookTok 101: TikTok, Digital Literacies, and Out‐of‐School Reading Practices. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 65(3), 219–226. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaal.1199

BookTok Alexandra Gouvis My selected keyword is an amalgamation of the separate words ‘Book’ and ‘TikTok’ (as in the digital social video platform). It represents a community of people who love to read and share creative content about books on the TikTok platform, resting on the laurels of the early BookTube (YouTube centric) and scattered BookStagram (Instagram centric) communities. Reading is very much a solitary hobby, and without existing reading groups or friendships it can be very difficult to find others who share this interest. TikTok is the current ‘go-to’ platform for adolescents today, with a huge boom during and following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For youth who like to read this community of readers gives them access to peers with shared interests, new ways of socialization via this shared interest (ie. buddy reads (multiple people reading the same book on a timeline), book trading (mailing each other favoured books), and annotation reads (partners or each person in a group each begin with a book that they annotate while reading, then mail to the next person to also read and annotate, sharing notes and findings in the margins) to name a few), and even new ways to express multimodal creative skills such as filming, editing, and writing. Another facet of BookTok is how it has made authorship, business dealings surrounding books, and the publication process as a whole more transparent both for young people to become more critical of the books they read, but also aiding those who aspire to write themselves. It is giving adolescents a voice to speak up and speak out about themselves and issues important to them - all centred around books! For example: creating a list of recommendations for graphic novels with LGBTQ+ representation (eg. The Girl From the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag), calling out companies with shady business dealings (eg. Bookish Box), or even promoting a local bookstore or event (eg. Glad Day Bookshop in Toronto). BookTok gives adolescents a voice and a community, two things that can and will have a great positive impact on their well-being, with the practical skills acquired in utilizing the TikTok platform assisting in physical and mental development. Two Sources: Flood, A. (2021, June 25). The Rise of BookTok: Meet the Teen Influences Pushing Books Up the Charts. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jun/25/the-rise-of-booktokmeet-the-teen-influencers-pushing-books-up-the-charts Jerasa, & Boffone, T. (2021). BookTok 101: TikTok, Digital Literacies, and Out-of-School Reading Practices. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 65(3), 219–226. https://doi.org/ 10.1002/jaal.1199 Additional Material if Interested: The instagram page for @booktalkevent A reader-generated virtual convention that originated on TikTok by a group of people who met through the app. TikTok users: @acourtofkayla, @latearareads, and @tesschb Popular young creators with huge followings.

51 Authors Chloe Gong (@thechloegong) and Xiran Jay Zhao (@xiranjayzhao) are both very popular best-selling, Gen Z authors in the young adult genre who share much via their respective TikTok pages.

Boredom Elena Calomino What youth does not get bored? In teaching adolescents, boredom is a fact. As parents/teachers, we strive to prevent boredom from rearing its ugly head. Yet boredom is an inevitable – even useful – human emotion (Phillips 76). By better understanding it, we can be better equipped to work with it, not against it. Boredom is defined as, “the state of being bored” while “bore” is, “to cause to feel weariness and restlessness through lack of interest; to cause to feel boredom” (MerriamWebster). The etymology of the word “boredom” comes from the Proto-Indo-European “bhorh,” meaning “hole,” morphing into the later Proto-Germanic “buron,” which was absorbed into Old English’s “borian,” meaning to bore through, to perforate (Etymonline). Then came something called a “boring tool,” which is a type of drill that works very slowly and repetitively. In the late 1700s, this led to “bore” becoming slang for “tiresome” and “boredom” followed (Vocabulary.com). Boredom is important to the study of adolescents because it is a necessary evil. A youth’s boredom is as unpleasant for the teacher or parent as it is for the youth experiencing it. In encountering this youth’s boredom, we see this as something negative, and immediately try to find something for them to do, or to encourage them to find something to “alleviate” this, as if boredom is a syndrome. But, if boredom is inevitable, cannot that mean that it is also a natural, necessary part of development? Freud saw a child’s boredom as an interruption, a transition (Phillips 75), one that can be natural, if we only let it. Winnicott sees boredom as a chance to “find his desire again.” This finding of desire is crucial to development. In being still, the child is free to think, reflect and observe his world. This is an excellent opportunity for creativity to grow, and when this happens, he learns that this “testing of the environment affords satisfactory results” (Phillips 76). In constantly bombarding our children with things to do, we rob them of these things. Once the child finds something to do, he has learned about himself, his interests, his skills, his talents. He also learns that he can trust the world. Therefore, being bored can and does foster crucial development. What happens if a child is never allowed to be bored? Is it not chilling to hear a child say, “I’m not allowed to be bored”? (Phillips 73). This is a child that needs to be allowed to experience boredom to get to know himself, to start to achieve self-awareness through discovering his desires. We must fight the urge to “sabotage it by distraction” and instead “hold” the experience for the child (Phillips 72). Understanding boredom is important to the study of adolescents because in doing so, we realize that it is a chance for growth. Boredom helps us to understand the experience of young people by seeing it as an opportunity to watch them get to know the world – and themselves. For this reason, experiencing boredom is the crux of their well-being. Therefore, we should not despair if our adolescents are bored. If we let it be, it will solve itself, but not solve as if it were a problem, but solve as in a challenge for the youth to find himself and his place in the world. As good parents/teachers, we must let them. Works Cited Bore Definition and Meaning – Merriam-Webster www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bore Accessed 05 November 2022

53 Boredom – Definition, Meaning and Synonyms / vocabulary.com www.vocabulary.com>dictionary>boredom Accessed 05 November 2022 Etymology, Origin and Meaning of Bore by Etymonline www.etymonline.com>word>bore Accessed 05 November 2022 Phillips, Adam. On Kissing, Tickling and Being Bored. Harvard University Press, 1993. “Why Boredom is Good for Your Child.” The School Run. www.theschoolrun.com>whyboredom-good-your-child Accessed 05 November 2022

BTS Esther Lu Link to Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CDG2i5xRprq4wxKPqOCSM2ZHGlXS5kzz/view?usp=share_li nk

The Bystander Effect Hodan Mohamud The Bystander Effect is a theory that diffuses responsibility and prevents individuals from helping a victim when a crime is taking place in front of them. This term helps define the psychological phenomenon that prevents a person from helping another in need due to believing that someone else will come to their aid. It has been proven by multiple studies that the more people there are present in an area the less likely that someone will step forward and offer their assistance (Mercade 2021). This is because they believe that someone else will take on the responsibility and help mitigate the situation. Another aspect of the bystander effect is dependent on where this crime might be taking place. For example, if a person is being verbally attacked on the subway most people will not get involved because they do not want the attention to be diverted towards them. We see that in most cases, bystanders often look around to see how others are reacting to the situation and hope that someone else will step in. As per the Britannica definition the “bystander effect, [is] the inhibiting influence of the presence of others on a person’s willingness to help someone in need” (2019). This keyword is important to the study of adolescence and health because it impacts how young people empathize with the people around them and stops them from intervening when they see an act of violence taking place or someone in need of help. The history of this term can be dated back to the late 1960s when researchers Bibb Lantane and John Darley popularized the term after studying the inaction of thirty-eight people who witnessed the murder of Kitty Genovese and did not intercede to help or call the authorities. Although the reports were later

56 deemed to be inaccurate the term has become a springboard for discussion to take place. This term enables us to better understand the experience of young people by analyzing the impact it has on their daily lives. Bullying in all its forms is one of the most used examples when this term is being taught to students. Understanding that not helping another person in need can prove to be detrimental emotionally, physically, and mentally for the victim who is undergoing the mistreatment. The bystander themselves might feel shame and guilt for not helping in the situation either because they believed a response was not warranted at the time. By analyzing this term, we see how victims are made to feel isolated and invalidated by what they are going through because nobody is intervening or helping them get out of the situation they find themselves in. In Mercade’s journal article, he states that “bystanders perceive helping as a public good [...] most bystanders help immediately when they are the only ones who can help. However, as soon as other bystanders can also help, bystanders both help later and are less likely to help” (2021). Understanding the complexity of this term highlights not only the experience adolescents feel but how their health and well-being are affected as well. Work Cited Blagg, Robert D.. "bystander effect". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Jan. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/bystander-effect. Accessed 4 November 2022. Campos-Mercade, Pol. “The Volunteer’s Dilemma Explains the Bystander Effect.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, vol. 186, 2021, pp. 646–61, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2020.11.012. Riedel-Johnson, | B. J. (2021, February 17). Bystander effect & intervention for youth. YWCA Spokane. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://ywcaspokane.org/youth-bystandereffect-intervention/

57 Women's resources of Monroe County. Women's Resources of Monroe County. (2019, July 26). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.wrmonroe.org/2019/07/26/what-is-theby-stander-effect/

Cancel Ysabela Reyes The keyword that I have chosen is “cancel.” Cancel is a word in pop culture that refers to the act of canceling someone usually through the means of social media to call out a person or group of people’s mistakes that are not seen as socially acceptable and to stop giving them support. In this case, to cancel someone is to condemn people for their actions or mistakes and ensure that those people will receive the proper consequences as a result of their wrongdoings. In terms of the word “cancel” and its historical significance, Mishan (2020) notes how the act of canceling someone has been around for many centuries as a form of public shaming and act of social justice against people’s behaviours deemed as immoral in the eyes of their society. Mishan (2020) also describes that despite the act of canceling someone has been common, the use of the term “cancel” itself has not been made notable until 2014 when the Twitter account of a comedy show “The Colbert Report” posted a joke that was seen as degrading towards Asians, and thus an Asian activist Suey Park spread the hashtag “#CancelColbert” throughout Twitter. I think “cancel” can help us understand the experience of young people due to its connections with issues surrounding social media, social justice, bullying as well as impacting an individual’s identity and self-confidence. Bromwich and Yar (2019) and their interviews surrounding teenagers’ experience with canceling shows how it impacted their social lives, whether it was to spread awareness to challenge those in power who misuse their authority, bullying and calling out acts of racism, sexism, homophobia. An adolescent from example one shows how canceling a celebrity such as R. Kelly who is known for being a pedophile has helped spread awareness to others why it is important to stop supporting his music (2019, pp. 1-2). In this case, to cancel someone can be used to help others become aware of social issues

59 surrounding certain individuals, challenge authorities and call people into question who they support. On the other hand, example three notes that being canceled has ruined an individual’s friendships, her sense of self-worth and abilities to trust because social media can bring up mistakes you have done years ago to define who you are in the present day (2019, pp. 2-3). In this case, to cancel someone can be detrimental to an adolescent’s ability to shape their own identity and sense of self-worth which can lead to social isolation, bullying and issues related to their mental health and overall well-being. The act of canceling someone also limits an individual’s identity through the use of social media because people can find previous posts that someone has uploaded a long time ago and use them as evidence that the individual is an immoral person. Therefore, to cancel someone can restrict an individual’s abilities to show their growth and learning from their mistakes since then as well as defining someone’s identity solely by the mistakes they have made. Reference List Bromwich, J. E., & Yar. S. (2019, October 31). Tales From the Teenage Cancel Culture. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://oglethorpe.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2020/01/teenage-cancel-culture.pdf Mishan, L. (2020, December 3). The long and tortured history of cancel culture. The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/tmagazine/cancel-culture-history.html

Cheesed Miranda Hermis Going through adolescences can be a challenging time for most youth as they are attempting to discover who they are and where they belong during this stage of life. Often during adolescences individuals can find it difficult to express their emotions to one another as it can be seen as a form of weakness to their peers. Not only do youth not want to be seen as vulnerable during this time they also lack the emotional intelligence to have meaningful conversation regarding how they are feeling. Instead, adolescence will gravitate towards the use of slang words to help them convey their emotions in a less vulnerable way. An example of this would be using the phrase “I’m cheesed” rather than “I am upset”. More often, it is found that adolescence will gravitate toward the term cheesed to shield them from expressing their raw emotions of being hurt. Although, the average person may think that cheese is a dairy product, it has a deeper meaning behind it which is commonly used by the average teenager. The term cheesed is often used by adolescences to express feelings of being upset or angry. Urban dictionary goes on to define these words as “the act of getting screwed over and/or hurt or mad in some way.” (Urban Dictionary, 2016). Rather than simply acknowledging their own emotions and stating that one is upset. Adolescent individuals will hide behind different the term cheesed to convey these emotions. At times, individuals may even go on to say “No, I’m not upset. I am just cheesed.”. As it is hard for them to accept the feeling of being hurt during that time. Essentially, the word cheesed can be used in many different contexts for expressing emotions including the feelings of angry, hurt, upset, and sad. Furthermore, a 15-year-old boy was asked what the word cheesed meant to him he goes on to say, “When I’m cheesed something went wrong in my day it could have been something someone said or did to me that made me cheesed.”

61 If we as educators are able to identify the emotions behind the word cheesed, we will be more equipped to helping our student communicate when they are feeling a particular way and identify the root of where these feelings are coming from. Research conducted by the Mission Harbor Behavioral Health has shown that teen which are more willing to talk about their emotion are less likely to go undergo depression as they can communicate and identify those negative feelings (Dekin, 2020). As years go on norms change in age groups, educators must try their best to adapt to the changes and understand what is being communicate from students as the students are attempting to communicate in the way most comfortable to them.

Work Cited Definition: Cheesed. Urban Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cheesed Dekin, S. (2021, May 26). Why teenages need to start discussing their emotions. Mission Harbor Behavioral Health. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://sbtreatment.com/blog/teenagers-discussing-emotions/

Chronically Online Kyle Van Zeumeren The internet is becoming more and more an integral part of the lives of adolescents. Huge parts of their social interaction comes from social media and other online interactions. While the ‘normal’ amount of time spent online continues to increase, there is a category beyond the normal amounts: chronically online. The term chronically online is often used interchangeably with the slightly more favourable term ‘Extremely Online’ or the even less favourable term ‘Terminally Online’. These terms all tend to refer to people who spend a huge portion of their time online, and care a significant amount about the things that happen online. They need to be up to date on the latest trends and happenings particularly involved with internet culture. This includes a huge amount of slang and language to the point of moving towards a new dialect. These dialects can be localized to different sub categories of online people, not all chronically online people speak the same dialect. People who are chronically online typically sacrifice social interaction ‘in real life’ (IRL) in order to continue to cultivate their online experience. Chronically online people tend to also not care about anything other than their internet life (Urban Dictionary, 2021). They often lose touch with the outside world, learning a dialogue of language that does not otherwise spill into the rest of the world. There is irony in the use of the term as it is mostly used by younger people, who themselves could be seen as chronically online to older outsiders (Al-Heeti, 2021). A lot of the documentation of Chronically Online people is made by other heavy or frequent users of platforms such as Tiktok. Chronically online people are often criticized for not understanding the real world, or what real life is like. These criticisms are sometimes ironic in themselves, as they show a lack of willingness on the part of the criticizer to try to understand the experiences of youth. Being Chronically Online is important for the study of adolescence because it is primarily a ‘condition’ faced by adolescents. It is important to understand why adolescents spend so much time online. Can they create a life online that they can not offline? Is it because they have more freedom to express themselves, their thoughts, opinions and feelings? Examining the reasons behind the potentially harmful levels of use described by the phrase can help to understand the struggles of modern day adolescents. Work Cited Definition: Cheesed. Urban Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cheesed Dekin, S. (2021, May 26). Why teenages need to start discussing their emotions. Mission Harbor Behavioral Health. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://sbtreatment.com/blog/teenagers-discussing-emotions/

Cliffhanger Jessalyn Shein ‘Cliffhanger’ is a word that is important to the study of adolescence, even though it is technically a literary device, because the word encapsulates the inner turmoil of the adolescent experience. The word cliffhanger has many different definitions, some within its use as a literary device and some as a phrase in itself. ‘Cliffhanger’ can mean a suspenseful movie, a show where each installment ends in suspense, a suspenseful ending itself, a situation where the outcome is uncertain up to the very end, a situation of imminent disaster, a situation that is dramatic or uncertain. For my keyword choice I considered using ‘uncertainty’ or ‘suspenseful’ but I thought that ‘cliffhanger’ was more specific to convey the adolescent experience. The history of the term ‘cliffhanger’ is quite interesting. A cliffhanger is a plot device in fictional stories where the protagonist is confronted with a dilemma of some kind and is used to entice the watcher/reader to return to the story to find out what happens next. Though the term was not coined until the 1930’s, it has been used in stories since the middle ages. The term ‘cliffhanger’ can help us understand the experiences of young people because it allows us to consider adolescent’s as the protagonists of their own stories. As future educators we need to consider all the possible suspenseful situations, the different dilemmas and the multitude of uncertainties that youth face. All of these daunting situations that young people face, no matter how trivial they may seem to adults at face value, may be the biggest cliffhanger of their entire young life. Another way that the term ‘cliffhanger’ helps us understand the experience of young people is by pointing our attention to representations of youth within different media. Stories of youth in the news, stories of fictional youth within tv shows or those within books, the list goes on. One prominent feature of all these stories is the presence of cliffhangers, whether or not the resolution of the cliffhanger had yet to come about. For example, seeing a young person in the news could mean they won an award, in this instance the teen may have experienced their cliffhanger as they poured their heart and soul into their work, hoping that they would win said award. In another news example, a young person may have passed away after struggling for years with mental health. All stories of youth within any media seem to embody the cliffhanger trope. The term ‘cliffhanger’ relates to youth’s health and well-being for the same reasons. When watching a show that uses a cliffhanger as a literary device, the viewer feels the intensity of the situation and the emotions of the protagonist. Youth are constantly struggling and trying to find resolution to the cliffhangers in their lives, as educators we can learn from this terms use within literary media and apply the same lens to the complex lives of our students. Work Cited Definition: Cheesed. Urban Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cheesed

64 Dekin, S. (2021, May 26). Why teenages need to start discussing their emotions. Mission Harbor Behavioral Health. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://sbtreatment.com/blog/teenagers-discussing-emotions/

Climate Strike Jennifer Johnson

Definition: climate strike: “a protest motivated by opposition to inaction toward climate change. Climate strikes usually involve young people and have been motivated by climate activists like Greta Thunberg” (Dictionary.com, 2021) On August 20, 2018, 15 year old Greta Thunberg began a protest outside the Swedish parliament with a sign that said School Strike for Climate in an effort to raise awareness about the climate crisis; a problem that will impact all youth in the coming decades. She protested peacefully until the Swedish election on September 9, 2018 ( Fridays For Future,n.d.; David Crouch, 2018). By standing up for what she believed, Greta was showing a kind of learning characteristic of adolescents, “beginning to think for oneself” (Waddell, 2002, p. 105). When people told her she should be in school not protesting, she pointed to her backpack to show she was doing homework, demonstrating that she could hold both the identity of a social activist and a good student at the same time (Crouch, 2018;Dupuis-Déri; 2021;Leysen,2019;Stapleton, 2019;Waddell, 2002). After the election Greta decided to continue to strike until the Swedish government fulfilled its Paris Agreement commitments and she urged students around the globe to join her. Fridays For Future, “a global strike movement” was started (Fridays For Future, n.d.). On Friday, November 30, 2018, students in Australia held a climate strike, in part, to stop the construction of a coal mine (Albeck-Ripka, 2018). However, as often happens when youth use their agency and attempt to have their voices heard, adults reacted negatively. The Australian Prime Minister stated publicly that he did not support the climate strike and the Minister of Resources stated, “I want kids to be at school to learn about how you build a mine, how you do geology, how you drill for oil and gas,” (Albeck-Ripka, 2018). These adults were projecting identities onto these youth, viewing them as troublemakers, and rule breakers when in fact the

66 youth were striking to bring attention to adults’ behaviour that was ruining their future (Waddell, 2002). In 2019 the climate strikes became global and youth were using social media1 to help share the work of organizing. On March 15, 2019, youth from 112 countries participated in a global climate strike. Greta tweeted, “Tomorrow we school strike for the climate in 1769 places in 112 countries around the world. And counting. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is needed. Let’s change history. And let’s never stop for as long as it takes” (Thunberg, 2019). The invitation to take up the identity of a global citizen and activist was being made available to all youth (Waddell, 2002). On November 29, 2019, a few days before COP25 started, another climate strike was held. Over 2 million people participated (Climate Change Trust; Fridays For Future,n.d.). There are many reasons why youth came out in the millions. For some, it may have been a needed day off, for others they may have been trying on a social activist identity (Waddell, 2002). Other youth may have participated due to peer pressure, eco-anxiety, and many likely believed in the climate strike. Youth realize the impact that climate change is having on food security, access to clean water, air quality, and mental and physical health (Ogunbode et. al., 2022; Sanson & Bellemo, 2012). In 2022 climate strikes continue. The climate crisis is real. I think Greta sums up why the youth are striking, “adults keep saying: “We owe it to the young people to give them hope.” But I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if the house is on fire. Because it is” (Thunberg, 2019)

Definitely not something adults in positions of power would do.

67 References Albeck-Ripka, L. (2018, November 30). Climate Change Protest Draws Thousands of Australian Students. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/world/australia/studentstrike-climate-change.html Climate Change Trust. (2021). Schools Strike for Climate. http://www.changeclimate.com/Protests_Climate_Change_Demonstrators_Protestors/Greta_Thunberg/Youth_Sc hools_Strike_For_Climate_Change_Students_International_Movement.htm Crouch, D. (2018, September 1). The Swedish 15-year-old who's cutting class to fight the climate crisis. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/01/swedish-15year-old-cutting-class-to-fight-the-climate-crisis Dictionary.com, 2021. Climate Strike The Words You Need To Know To Talk About Climate Change Today. In Dictionary.com https://www.dictionary.com/e/climate-changeterms/#:~:text=climate%20strike%3A%20a%20protest%20motivated,to%20inaction%20towa rd%20climate%20change. Dupuis-Déri, F. (2021). Youth Strike for Climate: Resistance of School Administrations, Conflicts Among Students, and Legitimacy of Autonomous Civil Disobedience—The Case of Québec. Frontiers in Political Science. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2021.634538 Fridays For Future. (n.d.) Who We Are. https://fridaysforfuture.se/en/about-us/ Leysen, S. (2019 March 20). Critics of The Climate School Strikes: Who’s The Child And Who’s The Adult? Vocal Europe. https://www.vocaleurope.eu/critics-of-the-climate-schoolstrikes-whos-the-child-and-whos-the-adult/ Ogunbode, C., Doran, R., Hanss, D., Ojala, M., Salmela-Aro, K., van den Broek, K., Bhullar, N., Aquino, S., Marot, T., Schermer, A.J., Wlodarczyk, A., Lu, S., Jiang, F., Maran, D. A.,

68 Yadav, R., Ardi, R., Chegeni, R., Ghanbarian, E.,...Karasu, M. (2022). Climate anxiety, wellbeing and pro-environmental action: correlates of negative emotional responses to climate change in 32 countries. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101887. Sanson, A, and Bellemo, M. (2021).“Children and Youth in the Climate Crisis.” BJPsych Bulletin 45(4): 205–209. Stapleton, P. (2019 March, 15). Climate Strike Hong Kong: Gov’t reaction to class boycott is ironic, short-sighted and dangerous. Hong Kong Free Press. https://hongkongfp.com/2019/03/15/climate-strike-hong-kong-govt-reaction-class-boycottironic-short-sighted-dangerous/ Thunberg, G (2018, November 26). I'm striking from school to protest inaction on climate change – you should too. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/26/im-striking-from-school-forclimate-change-too-save-the-world-australians-students-should-too Thunberg, G (2019, January 25). Address at World Economic Forum: Our House Is On Fire. https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2019/12/02/address-at-davos-our-house-is-on-fire-jan-252019/ Thunberg, G. @GretaThunberg. (2019, March 14). Tomorrow we school strike for the climate in 1769 places in 112 countries around the world. And counting.Everyone is welcome. [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1106256344586375168 Waddell M. (2002). Inside lives : psychoanalysis and the growth of the personality (Rev.). Karnac.

Consent Sydney Clarke The word consent is an important one to understand when it comes to the study of adolescent development. In its simplest form consent means to give assent or approval for something. When talking about consent and what it means to adolescents however, it should be defined in relation to sexual consent. Sexual consent is when approval has been provided to proceed with the sexual act that is being proposed by someone to another. Discussion around consent has been amplified in the recent years as people are becoming more aware of their rights. In Canada, when the first criminal code was consolidated in 1892, provisions were put in place detailing the age of consent for girls. That code was not amended until 1987, when provisions were added to be more gender neutral. This code means that people can be found criminally responsible for assault or rape if they were not given consent by the victim. Since the rise of the “Me Too” movement, there has been more discourse about consent and why this word is so important for both girls and boys to understand. The word consent can help us in better understanding the experiences of young people because their idea of what the word means can vary. Some adolescents do not even know what the word consent means. Knowing this helps us in learning how to better prepare young people for instances they may find themselves in. By discussing with them what consent is, when it should be asked for and given, we can ensure that they know their bodily rights, as well as when something bad has happened to them. Consent also provides us with insight into the maturity and awareness that a young person has when it comes to sex. The word consent is an important one when it comes to youth’s health and well-being because it can help in preventing a wide range of issues that can arise from sex. In talking to them about what it means to consent young people learn about their right to say no, and their right to

70 withdraw consent even after it has been given. This discussion will prepare them for the sexual relationships they will be having as they grow through adolescence. It also prepares them to have mature conversations with their partners, where they can set boundaries and ensure all parties are comfortable and feel safe with each other. Comprehending what consent means can help in the prevention of sexual assault, as well as protect both participants from criminal charges. When adolescents know that they should ask for consent as well as provide or withdraw it, they can be sure that their partner is comfortable with what is being done or asked. This leads young people to making and maintaining healthy relationships beyond just sexual ones. Some sources to learn more about consent are; Birtles, B. (2022). On Sexual Consent in Canada: The Balance Between Protecting and Respecting Sexual Autonomy. Western Journal of Legal Studies. Retrieved from https://www.canlii.org/en/commentary/doc/2020CanLIIDocs1902#!fragment/zoupio_Tocpdf_bk_1/BQCwhgziBcwMYgK4DsDWszIQewE4BUBTADwBdoAvbRABwEtsBaAfX2zhoBMAz ZgI1TMAjAEoANMmylCEAIqJCuAJ7QA5KrERCYXAnmKV6zdt0gAynlIAhFQCUAogBl7ANQCCAOQD C9saTB80KTsIiJAA Kids Helpline. (2018, 10 15). What is Consent? Retrieved from Kids Helpline: https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/what-consent

Covid Lockdown Daniel Logozzo During the Covid-19 (C-19) pandemic, society endured severe restrictions in the name of public health. Based on statistics and other information about C-19, it was believed that the elderly and the immunocompromised were at risk of possible harm or death from the virus, with significantly less risk to children and healthy young people. Based on this information, in conjunction with the media driven fear of high transmissibility and death, restrictions that were meant to protect the elderly and the medically vulnerable members of our society were implemented. Since it was believed that school aged children would be vectors of the virus, devastating the already devastated health care system, governments decided to put the children last on their list of priorities. The result was the longest and most complete ‘school lockdown’ in history that included daycares and elementary schools as well as high schools, and postsecondary institutions. During the covid lockdown, remote learning became commonplace and young students across the province suffered academically, socially, mentally, and physically, while the education system and educators were stretched well beyond their capacity. ‘Covid lockdown’ is reminiscent of the worst time in the lives of many young people. Academically, it was wasted time for many students, particularly for the very young whose academic foundation was yet to be formed. Many did not fare well with the digital classroom format, sitting alone in front of a computer screen is not an ideal learning environment for young children with limited attention spans. While underprivileged kids with no access to a personal computer or internet were left behind; school boards made efforts to provide the necessary tools for them to keep up with their classes. Students did not have the ability to socialize with their peers, isolation affected their ability to make friends, while the very young missed the opportunity to learn about behavioral expectations. This isolation played a part in the marked

72 increase in youth suicides and mental health crises, as teachers are often the first to identify signs of abuse or mental health issues (SickKids releases new research on how COVID-19 pandemic has impacted child and youth mental, Physical Health). Students missed the opportunity to be physically active because they could not participate in school sports or gym classes, while many never left their homes for fresh air. According to the CDC, the BMI of school aged children nearly doubled during the lockdowns (Children, obesity, and covid-19 2022). This has a direct co-relation to increasing the risk of other severe illnesses in these children such as heart disease and diabetes, which ironically are risk factors for illness due to C-19 itself. By mitigating the risk to the frail and ill, covid lockdowns increased the risk for children to acquire the virus that the lockdowns were meant to mitigate in the first place. Covid lockdowns have placed a spotlight on the importance of the school experience for children. Covid lockdowns have helped society realize that schools are necessary to produce academic success, social success, stable mental health, and the good physical health habits necessary for the long and healthy lives of our children.

Academic Source Maximova, K., Khan, M. K. A., Dabravolskaj, J., Maunula, L., Ohinmaa, A., & Veugelers, P. J. (2021). Perceived changes in lifestyle behaviours and in mental health and wellbeing of elementary school children during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Canada. Public Health, 202, 35–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.10.007 Non-Academic Source Rushowy, K., & Teotonio, I. (2022, June 20). Many students fell behind in the pandemic but the youngest ones are hurting most. learning loss is the least of it. thestar.com. Retrieved

73 October 24, 2022, from https://www. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/06/20/many-studentsfell-behind-in-the-pandemic-but-the-youngest-ones-are-hurting-most-learning-loss-is-theleast-of-it.html

Competitiveness Mulhammad Abdulhafiz The word I’ve chosen for this keyword assignment is “Competitiveness”. I’ve chosen a podcast as the medium and attached the link to the podcast below. Link to podcast: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kyHWR7UbUAtuxBnJRCEoQ4hD_ZTTAll/view?usp=share_link Resources: HEMA LATHA, P. (2010, November). THE ROLE OF COMPETITION ON ADOLESCENTS. https://www.pravahindia.org/. Retrieved November 13, 2022, from https://pravahdelhi.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/teachers-research-publication.pdf Schneider, Woodburn, S. S., Pilar Soteras del Toro, M. del, & Udvari, S. J. (2005). Cultural and Gender Differences in the Implications of Competition for Early Adolescent Friendship. MerrillPalmer Quarterly, 51(2), 163–191. https://doi.org/10.1353/mpq.2005.0013

Cringe Christopher Gouin “OMG That is so Cringe:” Emotion, Social Dynamics, and Adolescent Identity --“Watching that guy get rejected in front of the whole school made me cringe” (Urban Dictionary). --“When I look at myself in the mirror I cringe because I am ugly af [sic]” (UD). --“I got a nosebleed in the middle of a Zoom meeting. I felt cringe on my behalf” (bustle.com). --“This teacher is so cringe” (UD).

The above quotes begin to illustrate the complex tangle of language, emotional responses, social dynamics, and physical responses that get grouped under the word “cringe.” This brief paper traces the historical usage of “cringe” and suggests that it can be useful in thinking about adolescence because of the importance peer groups play in adolescent identity formation. Peer groups rely on systems of norms that are enforced, broken, and reenforced in a dynamic process in which emotional responses play a crucial role. To avoid cringe, adolescents can oftentimes conform their behaviour to avoid breeching norms, whether those norms are ultimately beneficial or not. The word “cringe” has a long history, first appearing in print in 1225 AD where it was used to describe the action of “contracting the muscles of the body, usually involuntarily” (OED). Its Old English root word, “cringan,” meaning “to fall, perish, die,” first appears in Beowulf in approximately 850 AD. An 1868 issue of Harper’s Magazine includes the first usage of “cringe” to mean: “to experience an involuntary inward shiver of embarrassment, awkwardness, disgust, etc.; to wince or shrink inwardly; to feel extremely embarrassed or

76 uncomfortable” (OED). Here, the once purely physical response takes on an emotional dimension. Next, a 1984 edition of the Irish Sunday Independent includes the first usage of “cringe” to mean: “acute embarrassment or awkwardness; also, something that causes this” (OED). Finally, a 2001 edition of the Mirror includes “cringe” as an adjective to mean: “causing feelings of acute embarrassment or awkwardness; that makes one cringe” (OED). Cringe, then, can be something one does, something one is, something one feels, and something one says. A recent entry in the Urban Dictionary sums up cringe as understood in this paper: “the feeling of physical discomfort without something physical happening to your body, that is usually caused by: second-hand embarrassment, witnessing physical discomfort happening to someone else, opinions and acts that you disagree with on a fundamental level, and so on.” This confluence of the physical, emotional, and social can be an extremely powerful influence on adolescents who are in the processing of defining their identities in relation to their peer groups. As Teijlinen et al. note, “emotions are not just individual reactions, but are shared in and shaped by groups” (pg. 2). Something that is cringe is such only within a shared context of norms. To avoid the discomfort brought on by feelings of cringe, adolescents will adopt and enact group norms, whether those norms are helpful or harmful. Indeed, cringe, related as it is to embarrassment, can be thought of as one of the dominant “emotions of social control” (pg. 2). In conclusion, despite being a word currently being used by adolescents in novel ways, cringe has a long and complex history in English. Cringe has a special valence for adolescents because of the important role emotions play as they navigate within their peer groups. As a teacher, I need to remember that my students are complicated individuals whose behaviour is often motivated by complicated emotions, including the desire to avoid cringe.

77 Works Cited “cringe.” The Oxford English Dictionary Online. “cringe” The Urban Dictionary. “Embarrassment as a Key Emotion in Young People Talking about Sexual Health.” Teijlingen, Edwin, Jennifer Reid, Janet Shucksmith, Fiona Harris, Kate Philip, Mari Imamura, Janet Tucker, Gillian Penney. Social Research Online, vol. 12, no. 2. 2007.

Cristiano Ronaldo Gabriel Giorgi Adolescence is a strange and scary time, often clouded with stress and anxiety. Everyone has different ways of coping with these struggles, a common one being with sports. I can relate to this personally, as can so many adolescents. One of, if not the most popular sport in the world is soccer, so it is natural that many adolescents would idolise one of the greatest players of all time; Cristiano Ronaldo. He is much more than just one of the greatest soccer players of all time, he is the true definition of a global icon. At the time of this being written, he is the most followed person on Instagram, sitting at 494 million followers. The powerful reach that he has over so many people, especially adolescents cannot be understated. Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Portugal and has been regarded as one of the best players in the world for almost 20 years now. He’s played for some of the biggest teams in the world, namely Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He has won almost everything there is to win in the sport, being named best player in the world on 5 separate occasions; which is second most in history. One thing that Cristiano Ronaldo is known for is his famous celebration. It can only truly be understood in video form,2 but this celebration can be seen on just about any soccer field that has young people playing on it, accompanied by a loud roar of “SIU”, which is what Ronaldo himself says. It has recently gained extreme popularity thanks to Youtuber iShowSpeed. The Youtuber who is known as ‘Speed’ has a target audience mainly of adolescents, and gained extreme global popularity thanks to his imitation and idolisation of Cristiano Ronaldo, in addition to his own version of the Ronaldo celebration, where he yells “SEWEY”.3 This

2 3

https://youtube.com/shorts/x6iqX2kFFgg?feature=share https://youtu.be/q2RlKMemSuo

79 celebration is attached to Ronaldo, and the amount of people who know it is further proof of just how popular he is, especially among young people. Adolescents are often concerned with fitting in, and Cristiano Ronaldo gives people who may not normally interact a commonality. From personal experience, I’ve worn a Ronaldo jersey to school and talked to people who I’ve never spoken to before, simply because of the jersey. Soccer is a universal language that anybody can learn to speak; social status does not affect it either. The most popular soccer player in the world only brings adolescents closer together and gives them something to celebrate and relate to. Ronaldo is also a positive role model for young people. Although he certainly cannot be compared to a parental figure, his incredible work ethic is something that all adolescents can take note of. He constantly strives to be the best and promotes a healthy lifestyle, something that many adolescents tend to struggle with. Ultimately, as an adolescent, Ronaldo is someone who we can strive to be. When you’re having a bad day you can go to the soccer field and have a laugh with your friends and teammates, capped off by doing Ronaldo’s famous celebration as a team. And for a moment, you forget that you’re having a bad day, because you can be Cristiano Ronaldo at that moment. Sources to Learn More About the Topic 1. Cristiano Ronaldo scores a big goal, does his signature celebration, and thousands of fans in the stands can be heard chanting his “SIU” celebration with him. https://youtube.com/shorts/x6iqX2kFFgg?feature=share 2. iShowSpeed scores a goal in a charity match and does Ronaldo’s celebration with the whole stadium joining him in the chant. In the interview at the end, he claims to feel like he was Cristiano Ronaldo, showing the power that the celebration has. https://youtu.be/q2RlKMemSuo 3. Academic Source. Specifically page 48-50 speaks about Cristiano Ronaldo’s perception among Portuguese adolescents. Keep in mind this was written in 2015, so Ronaldo was much younger and had not reached the global heights he has today. He was still one of the biggest names in the world.

80 Jorge, A. (2015). ‘Cristiano Ronaldo is cheap chic, Twilight actors are special’: young audiences of celebrities, class and locality. Celebrity Studies, 6(1), 39–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/19392397.2015.995467

Dab Pen Victoria Leoni This word is important to the study of adolescence and health because it is a tool that adolescence are using to smoke marijuana. Since marijuana has become legal in Canada it has become more accessible and acceptable. Many youths may think that because it is legal it is okay to smoke however there are long-term health concerns from underage usage. Also, dab pens are in the form of a pen so students can smoke it inside making it more accessible to get high. These are very popular in high schools right now and students are using them in school and even in the classroom. A dab pen is a slang word for a marijuana vaporizer, they are also called wax pens or wax vaporizers (Rise, 2022). Dab pens heat up the cannabis concentrate which turns it into a vaporizer. They are different than vapes because dab pens work with pure concentrates as opposed to vape pens that require cartridges (Rise, 2022). This is a popular term used in high schools right now and a popular item being used and abused by adolescents in high school. This word helps us understand the experience of young people because we are able to understand their inside stories by understanding their language and the tools that they are usingtoexperiment. Rightnowinhighschoolsdabpensaresopopular,fromsmokingthem to selling them, dab pens are so popular and common among adolescence. Young people are going through so many changes and phases which include experimenting with drugs which is why the term “dab pen” allows us to understand these phases. In a world where vapes and e-cigarettes are becoming more and more popular, it is important to educate ourselves and stay relevant in what drugs, substances and terminology/slang are being used by adolescence. What is popular now in high schools may be different than what we had growing up, for example, a high school 5-10 years ago would have cigarettes and joints as the main concern however in today's high school dab pens and vapes are what students are using. It is important to educate ourselves on these things so we can understand what the modern-day adolescent is going through and experiencing because their experiences will be very different than what we remember our adolescent experience to be like. This word is related to youth’s health and well-being because marijuana abuse and usage has many side effects on underage children. This can then affect the child's brain and development. In a study conducted in 2004 on marijuana use in adolescence, they found that more frequent use of marijuana during adolescence is associated with poorer achievement and lower expectations for academic success, a greater likelihood of using other drugs, and postponement of marriage and employment (Ellickson et al., 2004). It was also evident through the results that marijuana may contribute to cognitive impairments, adverse effects on long-term physical health, and higher levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation (Ellickson et al., 2004). This is important to note so that as educators we can stay relevant to the adolescent experience and help and support them in ways that they need. To learn more about dab pens follow the links,

82 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE5F94__k98 https://journals-scholarsportalinfo.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/pdf/02786133/v23i0003/299_mu fatydtatao.xml A great media comparison is the movie LOL and the show Euphoria, LOL came out in 2012 and I personally think captures adolescence very well, including rebelling, fights with parents, smoking cigarettes/weed, ect. While most of that stays consistent in Euphoria, a modern-day high school show, the biggest difference is the use of vapes, e-cigarettes and dab pens throughout the show. Here we can see a clear comparison of what drugs and substances were used in high schools about 10 years ago to what modern-day adolescents are using. From someone who grew up in high school during 2014-2018, it is extremely shocking to know that no one even carries around a lighter anymore, this is a great example of how what we remember our adolescent experience to be like will be very different than what it is today.

References Ellickson, P. L., Martino, S. C., & Collins, R. L. (2004). Marijuana Use From Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Multiple Developmental Trajectories and Their Associated Outcomes. Health Psychology, 23(3), 299–307. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.23.3.299 Rise Dispensary Recreational & medical marijuana dispensaries. RISE Dispensaries. (2022, October 12). Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://risecannabis.com/

Danmei Andrew Neil Danmei is a genre of Chinese fiction that is centred around romantic and sexual relationships between male characters. Danmei is closely related to and inspired by the genre of Japanese erotic fiction called yaoi, or Boy’s Love (BL). Most danmei works originate as web novels, before being adapted to other media, such as live-action TV series or animated series. Though danmei is produced for a Chinese audience, it has gained a following in anglophone countries first through fan translations, and later through official translations. As an example, the danmei work “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation” was first published on an online Chinese platform in 2015 before being adapted into a live-action series called “The Untamed”, released in 2019 and currently available to international audiences on Netflix. The novel was then picked up by a North American publisher and released to an English-speaking audience in 2021, reaching the New York Time’s Bestseller list for paperback fiction. The danmei fan community also has a large presence on online platforms, like the fanfiction hub Archive of Our Own. Danmei provides an avenue for youth to explore their sexuality in a safe and private manner. According to a survey of danmei fans, the average age when fans first started consuming danmei media was around 15. At this age, many adolescents feel unable to openly discuss topics surrounding sexuality or gender at home or at school. The primary audience for danmei, young cisgendered heterosexual women, appreciate how danmei fantasy flattens the power dynamic in the relationship, and upends heteronormative ideas about gender roles. While danmei has a reputation for being produced by straight women for straight women, online surveys suggest a much broader range of readership along sexual and gender identity lines. For many youth, danmei or related genres are their first exposure to queer media, which can lead them to explore their sexuality in a self-directed manner. Participating in activities such as fanart and fanfiction allows adolescents to find a sense of belonging to a community, express their creativity, and develop self-identity.

Figure 1: The official English release of the first volume of "Heaven Official's Blessing", a Danmei allows youth to explore not only gender and sexual danmei novel. identity, but racial identity as well. With geopolitical tensions between Western countries and China escalating in recent years, Western media coverage of China, and by extension Chinese society and culture, has become overwhelmingly negative. The past few years have also seen a sharp rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the US and Canada. Danmei gives Chinese-Canadian youth an opportunity to positively connect with their identity and heritage. Danmei heavily borrows from other Chinese genres, such as wuxia and xianxia fantasy, and continues the tradition of same-sex eroticism found in classical Chinese novels such as “Dream of the Red Chamber”. Engaging with this genre can also kindle (or rekindle) a passion for learning the Chinese language, in order to read the original works in their source language. Many readers of danmei express an inability to

84 connect with Western fantasy or queer media, in contrast to the perspectives and culture found in danmei. In a predominantly white and heteronormative society, non-Western and non-heteronormative media such as danmei serves an important role in the search for self-identity for many Canadian youth.

Sources Madill, & Zhao, Y. (2021). Female-Oriented Male-Male Erotica: Comparison of the Engaged Anglophone Demographic and That of the Greater China Area. Sexuality & Culture, 25(2), 562–583. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-020-09783-9 Zhao, J. (2022, March 4). Danmei, a genre of Chinese erotic fiction, goes global. The China Project. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://thechinaproject.com/2022/02/24/danmei-a-genre-of-chinese-erotic-fiction-goesglobal/

Demigirl JohnRoss Woodland In today’s society how someone feels is equally, if not more important, to how they look, or how they are identified by their piers. The once “black and white” culture of our grandparents is now replaced by the multiple coloured flag of the LGBTQ+ community both literally and figuratively. When describing a Demi-girl one might jump immediately to the two parts of the word, demi meaning part or half and girl being a scientific gender, but this would be a misrepresentation of a very complex word. A demigirl is as much a person as it is a feeling or set of emotions. Unlike identifying as male or female, a demigirl has some emotional attachment to the female gender whether they were born as such or not, however, does not fully identify as a women. (Peacock, 2019) There are many, for lack of a better word, forms in which a demigirl will view themselves, partially female and partially male or partially female and partially a- gender. It is important to note that this emotional attachment or lack of attachment to their identity commonly has nothing to do with their sexuality (Cover, 2022). Many demigirls who were identified as female at birth have attraction to males, but just do not necessarily feel completely comfortable in the female body. In today’s society the world is no longer black and white as we view emotions and beliefs on the same level as science. Coming from a conservative catholic background this subject draws on many opinions but from a broader scope, we are all sheep. It is important that everyone feels comfortable in their own bodies and it is not our job to judge. As this and other subsections of gender identification surface it is important that they are fully understood so that their intricacies can be respected and celebrated. Although demigirls are now “mainstream” as of 2014, there is still little known in the general society about their beliefs so they will often be grouped in with bisexuals, transsexuals or non-binary culture. This lack of knowledge may result in a demigirl trying on several different personalities until they find their true identity as their emotions do not match with social norms. This may result in a tremendous internal struggles for a demigirl as they struggle to meet social expectations while trying to define themselves. When studying youth, although I am far from an expert, it is important to understand they are like snowflakes; no two are alike. Although the definition of demigirls is easy to follow, the subsections leave it as a broad definition with many potential struggles. For instance, a person who was born a girl and identifies as a demigirl who is heterosexual may appear to be meet societies “expectations” however, may be struggling with an intense search for identity. Also under the umbrella of a demigirl is someone who is born with the identity of a girl who identifies as part male and part female and has sexual attractions to males. This person would seem to not fit societies “expectations” and have a complete different struggle than the example above. (Peacock, 2019) Therefore demigirls must be viewed on a case by case basis when examining the struggles that they might face daily. When viewing adolescent health it seems like it must be a never ending examination. In today’s society emotions share the same weight as science as we search for the correct definition of who we are. As an educator it is important that the world is no longer black and white and many of my students might be “trying on” different identities until they find what makes them whole. It is

86 important to be a container in this process, never pass judgement and continue to be an ally to the future movements. Work Cited Alpha Peacock. (2019, June 21) Demigirl and Demiboy Explained (Video). Youtube. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFG_lMTymds Cover, Rob. “Populist Contestations: Cultural Change and the Competing Languages of Sexual and Gender Identity.” Sexualities 25.5-6 (2022): 660–675. Web.

Depression Emmanuel Ellis The word I’ve chosen for this keyword assignment is “Competitiveness”. I’ve chosen a podcast as the medium and attached the link to the podcast below. Link to podcast: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kyHWR7UbUAtuxBnJRCEoQ4hD_ZTTAll/view?usp=share_link Resources: HEMA LATHA, P. (2010, November). THE ROLE OF COMPETITION ON ADOLESCENTS. https://www.pravahindia.org/. Retrieved November 13, 2022, from https://pravahdelhi.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/teachers-research-publication.pdf Schneider, Woodburn, S. S., Pilar Soteras del Toro, M. del, & Udvari, S. J. (2005). Cultural and Gender Differences in the Implications of Competition for Early Adolescent Friendship. MerrillPalmer Quarterly, 51(2), 163–191. https://doi.org/10.1353/mpq.2005.0013

DivaCup Loredana Segota Ever heard of a DivaCup? Despite what you may think, this is not a bedazzled thermos, or a mug that Beyonce drinks from. A DivaCup is a menstrual cup - a hygienic period device, usually made from silicone, which is designed to be inserted into the vagina during a woman’s period to capture blood. The DivaCup, which has been around since 2003, is the most well-known and popular menstrual cup on the North American market right now. Menstrual cups in general have been around for much longer than most people realize. The first versions of menstrual cups were called catamenial sacks, and were formulated in the late 19th century. More modern menstrual cups, similar to the ones we use today, made their way into the market in the late 1930s. Menstrual cups are largely endorsed for their simple use, reusability, financial benefits and overall sustainability, especially compared to disposable pads and tampons. So, where does this fit into adolescent development and health? Periods are still one of the most taboo subjects on planet Earth. The menstrual cycle, which is the catalyst for and origin of all human life, is an extremely stigmatized topic in government, education and society as a whole. In many cultures, menstruation is viewed as something negative, evil and unclean, as opposed to something natural and beautiful that brings new life. These taboos are ancient - some even argue that they are central to the formation of many patriarchal societies around the world. We refer to periods as everything but what they are - Aunt Flo, Mother Nature’s Gift, time of the month, the rag... As Hermione Granger would say - Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself! Period poverty exists as a result of this negative perspective towards menstruation, and thus the inaccessibility of period products to women globally. Many nations have worked to combat this, by removing tax from feminine hygiene products or providing them for free in schools. Though even in today’s schools, genuine and intentional education about periods is largely avoided. This is especially true in Catholic schools, where the attitudes towards reproduction are lined with embarrassment and shame, under the guise that one will “learn” more about this topic through marriage. This leads to a huge gap in knowledge for young adolescents, whether they menstruate or not. Feelings of embarrassment or shame are common in young females who have been taught by the society around them that their period is something to be concealed. There are consequences to young women not being educated on the changes their bodies are undergoing, and the resources and options available to them to support them in taking charge of their bodies and cycles in a way that is safe, accessible and shame-free. We refer to the unequal access to education, resources and acceptance around periods as menstrual inequity. This looks different for women across the world. Menstrual equity and the elimination of period poverty starts with the education of our young people, and changing the narrative around periods. Access to and awareness of various

89 period products is key in facilitating this change - this is where the DivaCup comes in. The rise of the DivaCup has led to numerous innovative period products, like period underwear and vaginal discs, hitting markets and being used - no, championed - by young people. Gone are the days where young women chose between pads or tampons. Introducing and educating adolescents about these products is a crucial step in ensuring body autonomy for our young women, promoting menstrual equity and ensuring our adolescents are not ashamed or embarrassed of what naturally occurs in their bodies. Here is a link to the DivaCup website and blog, where you can learn more about the various types of DivaCups and read informative articles around periods, period products and other menstrual information. Pandora’s Box - Lifting the Lid on Menstruation - An awesome documentary film produced by DivaCup which investigates period poverty and menstrual inequity around the world.

References Druet, A. (2021). How did menstruation become taboo? Clue. https://helloclue.com/articles/culture/how-did-menstruation-become-taboo [Website] (2022). DivaBlog. Diva. https://divacup.com/divablog/?per_page=10 TheDivaCup. (2022, January 1). Pandora's Box: Lifting the Lid on Menstruation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fki-a5Vj5M8&t=27s [Website] (2022). History of the Menstrual Cup. Lunette. https://www.lunette.com/blogs/news/short-history-of-menstrual-cups

Doomscrolling Ali Hasan Doomscrolling is defined as spending a lot of time looking at bad news or negative stories, especially on social media. It also can be used when you are constantly refreshing social media to get updates about a developing tragedy. The word is an obvious combination of doom and scrolling, doom referring to the negative news you see/search for, and scrolling like on social media or a website. The word is a relatively new one. According to google trends, it started being used in 2020, with its most significant spikes in November 2020-January 2021 and then peaking in February 2022. It is clearly influenced by the pandemic and constant updates about infection numbers. Doomscrolling can almost be described as a generational mindset. I think the word is indicative of the modern adolescent’s mindset. Today's adolescents are bombarded by negative news, terrible tragedies, and unprecedented global events. The fact that WW3 has trended online several times in the past few years indicates how unstable the political climate is. Massive wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters speak to how damaged the environment is and how young people have to inherit a world riddled with pollution. Additionally, and unfortunately, instances of school and mass shootings are also on the rise. Finally, many people point out how the cost of living has gone up exponentially, but paying jobs hasn’t matched the rate of inflation; many adolescents fear not even being able to rent a house, let alone buy one. Doomscrolling seems like one of many words the youth use to summarize their experience online. Adolescents are on social media a lot, so the constant flurry of negative information has a harmful effect on their mental health. This term is valuable as it gives us insight into the culture of youth, specifically online. Often times the word is used casually to describe how they spend their time or what they are doing. They know they are spending their free time doing something that can negatively affect them. But to some of them, it is unavoidable because the majority of the news is negative and because of the way social media connects everyone instantaneously, there is an almost unlimited supply. For them to stay informed and remain an active citizen aware of current global events requires them to be aware of the news, which, unfortunately, is mainly negative. This feeds back into a negative loop. It can be very similar to falling down a youtube rabbit hole, where you watch one video, which leads you to another and another. Doomscrolling can have the same effect. Reading about one troubling news story leads to reading another one and another one. This is partly to blame on news sources and other media outlets, as many try to put catchy titles or clickbait articles to attract more readers. Because of the addictiveness of social media, youths have a hard time separating themselves from it. It is essential for adolescents to recognize the unhealthy behaviour of constantly consuming social media content. Bibliography “Doomscrolling.” Urban Dictionary, www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=doomscrolling.

91 Price, Matthew, et al. “Doomscrolling during COVID-19: The Negative Association between Daily Social and Traditional Media Consumption and Mental Health Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, vol. 14, no. 8, 2022, pp. 1338–1346., doi:10.1037/tra0001202. “Doomscrolling” Google Trends https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2020-0101%202022-11-03&q=doomscrolli ng

Drag Patricia McCabe The keyword I have chosen is drag, in reference to drag queens and drag balls. According to a definition from Wikipedia, drag queen means: “Drag is parsed as changing one's clothes to those of a different sex, while queen is said to refer to a homosexual man.” (Wikipedia, 2022). Although this website is not the most reliable, Wikipedia can be a relevant source to adolescents who want to learn about vernacular that they ‘should’ know living in a media centred society. Despite this, I believe this definition does not show today’s current representation that can include people in drag of any gender or sexuality. Drag’s history starts with the term “cross-dressing”, meaning dressing alike to the opposite sex, which led to what became more popularly known as a drag queen in the late 1900s (Wikipedia, 2022). Drag is known for the idea of someone creating another persona of themselves to perform and provide entertainment for others. This usually includes the LGBTQ+ community, especially in spaces such as drag bars or shows, but has sometimes become an activity for straight people to enjoy as well. What started as a simple idea seen as playing dress up became an entire artform and community. For instance, the scene became popular in New York in the 80s when gay and trans people would host ballroom shows in underground clubs categorizing and competing for their drag looks. Understanding drag is essential to understand the experiences of young people due to the vernacular that is used in their everyday life. These terms consist of “slay”, “queen”, “boots”, “fierce”, “tea”, and many others. These stem from AAVE (African American Vernacular English), but at its root comes from Black and Latin drag queens. What is common of today’s young people on social media is to appropriate the culture and slang of Black people, and in this

93 case drag queens, and claim it as their own. This can be harmful to those who originated this vernacular because it is not acknowledging their origins nor is it used with its correct intent. In terms of the mental health of adolescents, drag can be influential due to the representation that it gives young people of colour and the gay community. Drag allows for selfexpression and creates a safe space for people who do not feel welcome in their everyday lives. Films and television shows such as Paris is Burning, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Pose, and Drag Kids are great representations of drag and its influence in popular culture today. As well, Marsha P, Johnson, a drag queen and gay rights activist involved in the Stonewall riots, is just one of the trailblazers who has paved the way for LGBTQ+ youth (Wikipedia, 2022). Drag is still not fully accepted, in ideas that the act of drag queens performing or teaching for all ages has been under controversy for sexually exploiting children and ‘turning them queer’. All in all, drag is the opposite of harmful, but to those who make it a problematic idea that expressing yourself and loving who you love is a bad message. Resources for further understanding: https://www.proquest.com/docview/2556417327?parentSessionId=NyL5Z8ySJGkTI8oyr4c8fH CYyNubKIW%2FwOgdfcXftu8%3D&pq-origsite=primo&accountid=15182 ^ scholarly https://www.losangelesblade.com/2022/08/29/you-cant-hate-kid-friendly-drag-shows-lovecheerleaders/ https://twitter.com/latelateshow/status/1537669366828834816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcam p%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1537669366828834816%7Ctwgr%5E4666a95c28467fb7bf47 73b549acf4f6b1385025%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.out.com%2Fd rag%2F2022%2F6%2F17%2Frupaul-drags-homophobes-who-want-ban-kids-drag-shows ^ informal/social media References Wikipedia Contributors. (2022, November 3). Drag queen. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_queen

Wikipedia Contributors. (2022, October 28). Marsha P. Johnson. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsha_P._Johnson

The Duff Sofia Spatola One of the most significant terms that comes to mind when pertaining to adolescents and youth is the term by Kody Kellinger. The term Duff is an invented slang term that is the acronym for “designated, ugly, fat friend”. This term is significant and relevant to the study of adolescence and health because it connects to the issues of self-esteem, labels and insecurity. These themes all pertain to the mental and physical health and development of young adults and teens. The term is based on the book written by Kody Keplinger that describes the character of Bianca who is deemed to be the “Duff” in her friend group. As she sets out to prove her high school peers wrong, she struggles with her own sense of identity and self-esteem which is connected to her physical appearance. The acronym is a way to describe the psychological presentation to others in a social setting. It can be used in a sense to establish power within a group setting and establish hateful narratives toward a person in which they are inferior. The “duff” of the friend group seemingly makes everyone around them present as being more attractive or better-looking. This idea is indicated in the text entitled Inside Lives Psychoanalysis and the growth of Personality by Margot Waddell. Waddell writes, “These apparent value judgments of actual behaviour and physical characteristics are based on observation, but they are also subject to the predispositions of the observer.” (Waddell 18-19). Physical observation is vital enough to severely impact the growth and development both mentally and physically for youth and adolescents. In the hierarchy within a friend group, the “duff” is at the bottom. The term’s history stems from the author’s personal experiences when she was in high school where a similar occurrence. Keplinger’s novel was turned into a movie in cinemas where visually, characters would reenact her personal experience and narrative. Visually, the movie shares the very real encounters that people experience in school or social

96 settings. The term relates to the severity and importance of young adults and their perception of self. Labeling people on the basis of their physical presentations has an impact on their mental health and makes genuine connections harder to find. The subsequent effect of issues that come from name calling are long-term and impact everyone involved. The term relates to the school bullies, stereotypes and self-esteem which are all clearly connected to adolescent health and development. This is significant to the way that adolescents view themselves. The danger of this physical observation is that there is a clear domino effect. If a parental figure has undergone harsh physical observation by others, then without intention or choice, the child is exposed to this. Throughout developmental years for adolescents, exposure is vital to their perception and understanding of identity and bullying in various settings. If there is interest in learning more about the term “duff”, the movie starring Mae Whitman shows a visual exploration of the effects of being labelled. As well, Joseph Walderzak explores the notion of group identity in his journal entitled Man-Candy, Hot Body, and an Army of Skanks: Mean Girls as Revisionist Text. The term duff is damaging and can impact a person greatly. Potential consequences such as body dysmorphia, depression, eating disorders along with many other illnesses and symptoms can stem from triggers such as name calling and labels and this needs to stop. Works Cited: Joseph Walderzak (2019) Man-Candy, Hot Body, and an Army of Skanks: Mean Girls as Revisionist Text and the Teen Film Genre, Quarterly Review of Film and Video, 36:6, 498-519, DOI: 10.1080/10509208.2019.1593016 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10509208.2019.1593016?needAccess=true

“The Duff.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 20 Feb. 2015, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1666801/. Waddell , Margot. “Chapter 2: Beginnings Excerpts .” Inside Lives Psychoanalysis and the Growth of Personality, Routledge , 1998, pp. 15–19. The Tavistock Clinic Series.

E-Cigarettes Julia D’Elia E-cigarettes are an alternative to smoking combustible cigarettes, but it is important to recognize the danger and threat these products pose to adolescents. When analyzing e-cigarettes concerning adolescence, it is crucial to look at how these devices impact adolescents' health. E-cigarettes contain many harmful substances such as nicotine which is a highly addictive substance that can negatively impact brain development for adolescents and those in their mid to early twenties. Before understanding the impacts of e-cigarettes one ought to recognize and understand the devices themselves. Note that e-cigarettes are electronic devices that come in many different forms; most are battery-operated and have a heating element that heats the liquids to make an aerosol which is then inhaled. E-cigarettes are called many things but many young people including adolescents refer to them as vapes or vape pens. E-cigarettes do have flavoured pods, they can also be used for marijuana or other drugs. E-cigarettes come in a variety of flavours which makes them appealing to adolescents who do not want to smoke actual cigarettes. This is dangerous as e-cigarettes seem to be marketed towards adolescents as they are discrete, and many are used in school washrooms. A popular brand of e-cigarettes is JUUL which not only offers different flavours but also different skins to customize the look of the device. JUUL is also popular amongst students as it uses nicotine salts which gives the user a high intake of nicotine. Not all JUUL e-cigarettes contain nicotine but recognize that approximately two-thirds of people who use JUUL are between the ages of 15 and 24. Note that e-cigarettes cause harm to the parts of the brain that manage one’s impulses, learning, attention, and mood. All of these aspects are already changing for adolescents as their brain develops, and the introduction of e-cigarettes only makes this development more difficult. Adolescents who then try to quit using e-cigarettes have a difficult time as they go through withdrawal, which in turn harms their mental health. These withdrawal symptoms include being irritable, depression, anxiety, problems sleeping and concentrating on tasks, as well as craving nicotine. When adolescents use e-cigarettes to combat or cope with their issues, it creates a vicious cycle where they now depend on it. Their withdrawal symptoms will improve over time but the long-term effects of the use of e-cigarettes are still not completely known. Understanding the term e-cigarettes is important to understand the experiences of young people as some use it to cope with their struggles with depression, stress, or anxiety. Others may turn to e-cigarettes as a way to fit in at school, and to be cool. E-cigarettes are popular amongst young people, and it is important to bring awareness to this as they may not know the potential health risks e-cigarettes present. Many believe that e-cigarettes are better than combustible cigarettes, however, both are very dangerous not only to their development but their mental health and wellbeing. Knowing what e-cigarettes are is important because if adolescents are using them, adults can provide them with alternate resources to help them cope with whatever they are dealing with. References

99 Elders React To Vaping (JUUL) For The First Time. (2018, December 13). YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTcmXmt9YJw Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Young People. (n.d.). CDC. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-Ecigarettes -for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

100

ENBY Dot Grossman For my keyword assignment I chose the word ENBY. Enby is a phonetic spelling of the initials N.B., which is short for NONBINARY. So in some ways my keyword is three keywords, but it is also just three ways of referring to the same thing. Nonbinary referes to a person, or quality of a person, whose gender identity is located somewhere outside of the categories of male or female. Nonbinary is a word typically used in the West. First Nations folks in the West however, historically and currently use the word “Two-Spirit” to describe a type of gender identity and/or embodiment that is neither male or female specifically. Many other cultures around the world have their own terms and specific ways of understanding individuals who do not fall neatly into the gender binary. Enby is a term that is not only culturally specific to place but also to time. I personally identify as nonbinary but it is a word I have adopted for myself over time. I came out as “Genderqueer” and I still identify that way. Genderqueer is a word that was available to me at the time of my coming out. When I use it, it dates me, which is a cool (and sometimes not cool) thing that language can do. So, like many people, I may use language and identity markers selectively in unique contexts, to subtly different outcomes. We know that adolescence is a period of growth both physically and mentally in which youth go through many changes. Some of those changes refer to the process of becoming more sexually mature both physically and psychologically. We also know that much of the work of adolescence is about figuring out one’s unique identity, particularly as distinct from one's parents and caregivers. Gender identity and sexual orientation are two different things, but they do inform one another. So when hormones and puberty and sexual attraction feelings are on the rise, gender identity is bound to become very present as well. For all of these reasons, adolescence may very likely be a period in which one comes to understand and recognize themself as nonbinary. As queer genders become more talked about in the mainstream, we see younger and younger children coming to identify and express themselves as trans and/or nonbinary. Evenstill, I feel that the developmental stage of adolescence will always bring new meaning and implications to one’s gender identity, particularly those which deviate from the norm, because this is often when our gender identities become intimately relational. Words can help us know and express ourselves to others, two central tasks at the fore in adolescence. Nonbinary is an umbrealla term underwhich there are infinite unique ways of being. So much like Queer, Enby as a label has both the power to categorize a person in one way, and also remain almost completely non-restrictive or determinant at the same time. I think these words can be very helpful and important in a person’s development. Also, N.B, ENBY, nonbinary are truly quite specific key terms for the here and now. SOURCES FOR FURTHER LEARNING ACADEMIC:

101 Knutson, D., Koch, J. M., & Goldbach, C. (2019). Recommended terminology, pronouns, and documentation for work with transgender and non-binary populations. Practice Innovations, 4(4), 214–224. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000098 Carrie Paechter, Alex Toft & Anna Carlile (2021) Non-binary young people and schools: pedagogical insights from a small-scale interview study, Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 29:5, 695-713, DOI: 10.1080/14681366.2021.1912160 NON-ACADEMIC: (A rather adorable video of a trans/nonbinary youth asking and answering twenty questions related to their identity and inviting other nonbinary people to participate as well) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1xHOqpHkXU&ab_channel=AshtonDaniel (Dictionary (dot) com definition of the word “enby”) https://www.dictionary.com/e/gender-sexuality/enby/ (Wikapedia entry for “ non-binary gender” with links to related but distinct terms including “genderqueer” and “enby”) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-binary_gender

102

Enby Lauren Woolfrey

Keyword: Enby The word Enby is derived from the word nonbinary. It comes from the phonetic pronunciation of NB, the abbreviation of “non-binary”. An enby is someone who's gender identity does not conform to exclusively man or woman. Enby is a term that can be used to describe someone who is a member of the LGBTQ community as it relates to the T in this abbreviation, meaning transgender. Many people who identify as enby also identify as transgender because their gender identity does not conform to their assigned gender at birth. Enby can be seen as an umbrella term that can include those that identify as bigender, agender, or gender queer. Enbies may use a combination of different pronouns to identify themselves including they/them, she/they, he/they, and many others that exist. The infographic created by the community organization the 519 and can be accessed from the519.org, describes how to use gender neutral pronouns. Although enby and non-binary are essentially the same thing it is important not to assume how someone identifies. One person may feel affirmed when using “non-binary” while others may find that the term “enby” is more approachable, comfortable, and light. Giving students access to this language can help them to make meaning of their feelings and experiences.

Cisgender, heteronormative identities have historically, and continue to be, projected on to youth by adults whether intentionally or unintentionally and therefore many queer identities are seen as

103

abnormal or deviant. As discussed by Waddell, the many complexities of development can often be related to what was projected on to children by the adults in their lives and making meaning of one’s feelings and identity is derived from experiences Many topics that directly relate to queer students go undiscussed in schools or at home due to a fear that discussions of these topics will cause youth to become queer and therefore abnormal. Despite this fear, and regardless of what is being projected on to them, many queer adolescents experience feeling different, and the inability to make meaning of these feelings can impact the health and development of these youth. Schools can act as a place of exploration of these identities rather than a place of repression as discussed by Jen Gilbert in her book on the function of sexuality in school and the limits of education.

The Canadian Trans and Non-binary Youth Health Survey in 2019 found that 36% of Canadian trans youth felt unsafe at school. As school is a major part of the adolescent experience, we have a responsibility as adults to make the lives of enby youth better. Most enby youth know that their gender identity does not conform to their assigned gender from an early age. An understanding of the term "enby" can help to guide educators, policy makers, health providers, and others. Lack of knowledge and representation is a major obstacle in validating the identity of enby youth. Openness, validation, and support of gender diversity at school can positively affect trans and non-binary or “enby” students’ health and safety. Where to look more: Non-academic sources about the meaning of the term enby and nonbinary: DotGay. [@dotgay]. (2022, February 14). What Does ENBY mean? [video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@dotgay/video/7064738671085423918?_r=1&_t=8XHhtTSF2nu &is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7064738671085423918 Kassel, G. (2022, March 21). 8 Enby faqs: Meaning, pronouns, sexuality. Healthline. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/enby The 519. Retrieved November 2022, from https://www.the519.org/ Academic sources on the well-being of enby youth:

104 Kelley, J., Pullen Sansfaçon, A., Gelly, M. A., Chiniara, L., & Chadi, N. (2022). School Factors Strongly Impact Transgender and Non-Binary Youths’ Well-Being. Children, 9(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/children9101520. Retrieved from https://journals.scholarsportal.info/pdf/22279067/v09i0010/nfp_sfsitanyw.xml Taylor, A.B., Chan, A., Hall, S.L., Saewyc, E. M., & the Canadian Trans & Non-binary Youth Health Survey Research Group (2020). Being Safe, Being Me 2019: Results of the Canadian Trans and Non-binary Youth Health Survey. Vancouver, Canada: Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, University of British Columbia. Retrieved from https://apscsaravyc.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2020/03/Being-Safe-Being-Me- 2019_SARAVYC_ENG.pdf

105

Expectations Matthew Napoli Although this is a general word to use in the focus of this assignment, it is a word that closely relates to me when I was growing up as well as right now as a young adult trying to figure out my life. Expectations are placed on adolescents the second they are put into the education system in a variety of ways. When they are younger, the expectations of young students in their early years are very low, the bare minimum is expected of students such as learning basic math and English at a calm pace and not too rushed. However, as students get older, especially in the teenage years, expectations become much more daunting and pressuring for students. The period that I’m talking about is between twelve to eighteen years old. Partially speaking from personal experiences as well as what is commonly understood about students of those age ranges, there is a pressure felt on them that grows increasingly. The expectations begin to pile in several ways. The expectations in school, to get the grades they need to succeed, the expectation to be selfsustaining and balanced although they are tasked with more and more responsibilities.

These expectations are placed on these students through several outlets. There can be expectations from parents who may put additional pressure on their children to do well in school and have the responsibility to succeed in everything as well as maintain a job. Or perhaps expectations from teachers who can expect a lot from their students and sometimes even too much. The one which holds the most influence for me is society. The conception of perfectionism is an expectation that is placed on these young adolescents from an early age, and it can be crippling for many as these are unrealistic expectations. As I have just said, the kinds of expectations that are faced can be within education, making money at a young age, and even worse, social expectations. Social expectations are where society has the focus of how people

106 should be like in society, what is expected of them rather than people being true to themselves. Societal expectations are unhealthy for the youth for the reasons stated. The idea that they need to do well in school, they need to get a job and make money when they are young, they need to adapt to societal standards. All these focuses are very crippling for a young person who is growing and sometimes needs the extra time to focus on the essential things in life. Not every person has the availability to meet these expectations and it can grow to be something very negative for a young individual. As I stated initially that this is a general word to use, it is one that holds great purpose in the study of adolescents and youth and without understanding the expectations that are being placed on the young generations, we can’t understand why they feel the way that they do or understand why they behave the way that they do. Hence why that is the word that I chose and found significant to use in this assignment. Academic source: Feliciano, C., & Lanuza, Y. R. (2016). The Immigrant Advantage in Adolescent Educational Expectations. The International Migration Review, 50(3), 758–792. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43948671 Non-Academic Source: Song: Lose Yourself by Eminem

107

Exploration Nicole Coutinho Broadly, the word exploration is associated with travelling and seeing new countries, however, for adolescents, exploration is fundamental to their development. By dictionary definition, exploration means the action of travelling in or through an

Figure 2: (Clements & Musker, 2016)

unfamiliar area to learn about it (Oxford University Press, n.d.). The aforementioned goes beyond implications and resonates deeply within adolescent lives. From infancy to adolescence, a child's identity is shaped and dependent on parental authority. As adolescents reach puberty, they are involuntarily propelled into an age of exploration. From physical changes in body fluctuations and hormone increases to social changes of a shift of dependence on their friends, all demonstrate new experiences that can become difficult to explore in adolescents. Through this transition, parents often struggle in adjusting to their child's development of an independent personality and unconsciously implement barriers to exploration. In adolescence, a parent-child relationship does not end but becomes one with mutual dependency and understanding. For example, adolescent exploration depends on the parent's readiness to let go and encourage autonomy. As exploration is inevitable in adolescence, parental overinvolvement and disapproval of individuality can affect development. The idea of overinvolvement is a trait often possessed by helicopter parents, which results in resistance to exploration leading to long-term mental health issues as a consequence. The main problem of helicopter parenting is that the parent acts as a cushion to the child before they even get the chance to fall and possibly fail. Thus, as a consequence of parents being overcontrolling and overprotecting (Gilbert, 2021), adolescents feel pressured to refrain from exploration in

108 shaping their identity. Likewise, adolescents possess a lack of confidence, unable to problemsolve and struggle to regulate their emotions, altogether this sets back adolescents from their exploration experience in their development. Complications rapidly arise as a result of adolescents being pressured to neglect exploration, thus, leading to mental health issues. A research study conducted which analyzed the effects of helicopter parenting on students' well-being was alarming. For example, the study found that high parental involvement in adolescence was linked to both externalizing problems of acting out and internalizing problems such as depression and anxiety (Schiffrin et al., 2014). Thus, the word exploration is crucial for adolescent development, as parents embody the personality of a helicopter parent who can influence and stop adolescents from exploring a world where they become themselves and learn from their failures is concerning for development.

Left to Right: (Minkoff & Allers, 1994), (Clements & Musker, 2016), (Shi, 2022), (Lasseter et al., 2003). (Click YouTube link (from minute 1:15-2:00) : https://youtu.be/sQfk2V7WUjc for visual example of exploration and helicopter parenting) In conclusion, as an educator, I have a responsibility to empower adolescents and encourage exploration. Oftentimes, parents associate their parenting as being what is best for

109 their child's life, in contrast, it is demonstrated that helicopter parenting prevents adolescent development as children are refrained from exploring a world of their own. Thus, classroom time encourages self-autonomy in which students have an active role in making their own decisions separate from parental pressures. Through autonomy, the students have a space for exploration in which they have the confidence to think critically, make mistakes, and have control over their interests. Therefore, the word exploration goes beyond travel and demonstrates to be crucial to adolescent development as they are creating an identity of their own.

To better understand helicopter parenting effects on adolescent development which halts exploration, please see the academic journal below: Schiffrin, H. H., Liss, M., Miles-McLean, H., Geary, K. A., Erchull, M. J., & Tashner, T. (2013). Helping or hovering? the effects of helicopter parenting on college students’ wellbeing. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23(3), 548–557. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9716-3 To better understand adolescence in regard to the word exploration alongside helicopter parenting please see the movie below: Clements, R., Musker, J., Williams, C., & Hall, D. (2016). Moana. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. References Allers, R., & Minkoff, R. (1994). The Lion King. Buena Vista Pictures. Clements, R., Musker, J., Williams, C., & Hall, D. (2016). Moana. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

110 Gilbert, N. (2021, November 30). Helicopter parenting: The consequences. International School Parent. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.internationalschoolparent.com/articles/helicopter-parenting-theconsequences/ Oxford University Press. (n.d.) Emotional Intelligence. Oxford English dictionary. Shi. (2022, March 1). Turning Red. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Schiffrin, H. H., Liss, M., Miles-McLean, H., Geary, K. A., Erchull, M. J., & Tashner, T. (2013). Helping or hovering? the effects of helicopter parenting on college students’ wellbeing. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23(3), 548–557. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9716-3 Unkrich, L., & Stanton, A. (2003). Finding Nemo. Buena Vista Pictures.

111

Facetime Samantha Sangiorgio FaceTime is a video and audio chatting platform created by Apple. The platform allows users to communicate face to face. Compared to traditional forms of calling, FaceTime allows users to not only hear but also see facial expressions making the call more interactive, fun, and meaningful. FaceTime has evolved to become a positive addition to virtual communication, mimicking a form of regular human contact. In today’s media saturated world, the young generation have been growing up with new forms of technology that has impacted their upbringing and experiences. FaceTime has played an important role in helping young people build connections and socialize with friends and family especially when in person interactions may not be possible. It is important to note that screen time has clearly taken up a great deal of adolescent’s lives but using it in healthy ways by balancing and limiting it can contribute to an improved youth’s health and well-being. FaceTime can maintain relationships as well as build and develop social skills. At times, text messaging and other forms of written communication can convey the wrong tone, emotion, facial expressions, gestures and body language. Furthermore, youth lose face to face communication skills as they lack people skills and may get too comfortable communicating behind the screens. FaceTime then becomes a great medium for youth to still engage in online communication. The real meaning of the message still remains through the medium as face-to-face conversation is still present allowing facial expressions and tones to be better interpreted. FaceTime also provide youth with communication all over the world. Many families and relatives do not have the opportunity to live in the same cities around the world and are not able to see one another for long periods of time. FaceTime has given families a way of

112 keeping in touch with one another and building close relationships even with family who live on the other side of the world. Adolescence is a time of change and new beginnings. Youth begin to explore identity and experience many different relationships. Youth begin to find their social circles and figure out ways to fit into the environment around them. At times of crisis or loneliness, youth can support one another over FaceTime when in person contact is not possible. Youth who struggle or feel uncomfortable in social situations can use FaceTime to make connections, chat and limit the awkward feelings until they become more confident as it provides a low-stress environment. This form of face-to-face, back and forth communication can give youth a sense of comfort before entering the real world which will be quite similar. Youth can relate on many levels, share interests, and build strong connections with one another whether it be with one friend or multiple people. Video calls also become crucial in social services available to youth. Social workers, counselors and providers have this powerful platform to strengthen engagement with youth in the comfort of their home when in person meetings are not possible. All in all, FaceTime plays a large role in the experiences of adolescents as this medium helps the struggles and hardships youth encounter, making positive contributions to building healthy relationships! References Garmiani, J. (2021) FACETIME [Recorded by Garmiani] Facetime. Spinnin Records. Koren, M., (2022, March 4). Social Distancing Could Change Our Relationship With FaceTime. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/03/social-distancing-coronavirusvideochat-facetime/608038/

113

Facetune Alisha Andrade Most adolescent life in the western world (and in many other parts of the world) is completely centered on their online presence and social media. Social media and apps like Instagram and TikTok have emphasized personal appearance and the curation of a particular image more than ever before. With this over emphasis on having a ‘perfect’ personal appearance, according to the constantly changing, impossible beauty standards, photo and video editing has become incredibly normalized. One of the most popular, and widely used and known of these photo editing apps is Facetune. Urban Dictionary defines Facetune as, “An app commonly used for editing substandard selfies.” (Facetune, Urban Dictionary) Initially released in 2013, Facetune ranks number 16 amongst all photo and video apps and is rated 4.4 stars out of 5 from its users. The app, made specifically for the editing and enhancement of selfies and other selfportrait photos, provides users with several beauty filters as well as the ability to apply edits such as teeth whitening, removal of blemishes, smoothing out skin, correcting bad lighting, contouring, adding makeup and even adjusting, refining, or resizing shapes or body parts. The popularization of photo editing, specifically with Facetune by celebrities, has turned the app name Facetune into a verb in itself. Instead of claiming to have edited or photoshopped their photos, individuals might say “I facetuned that photo before posting it.” This app, and this term as a verb, has become popularized in recent years by the celebrities who use it including, Tana Mongeau, Khloe Kardashian, Sarah Hyland, and Alex Cooper. (See Tweets below)

114

What was once left only to professionals and celebrities, photo editing, enhancement, and photoshop, has become increasingly accessible and easy to use. The use of photoshop and photo enhancing apps like Facetune only has negative impacts for its users, and for the audience who consume the altered media assuming its reality. Young girls and women are in a perpetual cycle of consuming altered photos, desiring to look like the individuals in those photos, and then placing those unrealistic standards on themselves. While many say that people should just know and assume pictures on social media have been altered, adolescents who are constantly exposed to this false reality are affected by the pressure to conform to extreme standards of beauty. It is then not uncommon for many adolescent girls to go to extremes to achieve these unrealistic expectations by over exercising, partaking in disordered eating habits, altering their appearance permanently through plastic surgeries, or by photo editing themselves. Apps like Facetune, and the unrealistic expectations they set therefore impact the health and well-being of youth and adolescence. Learn more about Facetune: Facetune. Urban Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=FaceTune

115 Parsa, K., Talati, I., Wang, H., Chu, E., Talakoub, L., & Reilly, M. (2021). Quantitative Analysis of Enhanced Selfies in a Young Adult Population. Facial Plastic Surgery, 37(05), 651–656. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1726313 Skinner, P. (2019). These Instagram Accounts Keep It Real By Showing What Celebs Fake. Daily Beast. Retrieved from https://www.thedailybeast.com/hit-instagram-accounts-reveal-whatcelebs-look-like-withoutfacetune#:~:text=The%20reality%20star%20isn't,the%20art%20of%20the%20FaceTune.

116

Finsta Ann Zasowski In the study of adolescence and health, there are multiple factors that comprise the complicated life of an emerging adult. The influence of platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram on adolescence and health in undeniable, as they can influence a number of factors in life- from sociability to self- image- either in a positive or negative fashion. A word related to social media and adolescence is the term ‘Finsta’. It is a blend of the two words ‘fake’ and ‘Insta(gram)’, indicating the main points of its uses. It refers to a second social media account that a person may have that is often anonymous and less popular than their main account. Individuals are able to post more casually on their Finsta and are able to keep their viewers to a minimum, such as close friends or family, something generally not possible on individuals’ main accounts. The term Finsta makes a large statement regarding the modern uses and stressors of social media. Often when friending or following people on social media, it is not intended to be a deep commitment or friendship. This results in adolescence accumulating hundreds or thousands of casual followers who they are loosely acquainted with. Having such large numbers of people viewing your everyday life can create a toll on the expectations of yourself and the lifestyle you would like to portray to the world. It is for this reason that social media sites seem to have become a burden on adolescence and their mental health. Having hundreds of followers to potentially scrutinize you and your actions results in a great amount of pressure to constantly perform and display only the best of your life. This also results in a great deal of comparison between the ‘perfection’ of others’ lives versus the reality of your own. It is for this reason that adolescence have been pressured into forming Finsta accounts. It is on these accounts where they have the opportunity to act more genuine on social media, as their follower base is more

117 indicative of the people who are truly present in their lives and are known on a more personal level. The concept of a Finsta is also used in the context of trying to hide certain actions from certain individuals. The popularity of Instagram seems to have grown for older adults, meaning that the accounts of adolescence are more commonly being observed by parents now. It is for this reason that adolescents may choose to create a Finsta, in order to have a more private life from their parents. Whether it is because of the constant scrutiny that adolescence seem to receive, or whether it is an attempt to display a more genuine identity that they are afraid to share with their parents, the creation of Finsta accounts provides insight into the more realistic experiences of adolescence. These accounts may also allude to common practices of adolescence that may not be endorsed by parents or the law (ie. underage drinking). The existence of these Finsta accounts show how adolescence have a desire for independence, one that is not monitored or controlled by their parents. Finsta accounts prove an insightful tool in the true adolescent experience and pursuit of independence. Academic resource: Kang, J., & Wei, L. (2019). Let me be at my funniest: Instagram users’ motivations for using Finsta (a.k.a., fake Instagram). The Social Science Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2018.12.005 Non- academic resource: Lorenz, T. (2017, May 3). The secret Instagram accounts teens use to share their realest, most intimate moments. Mic. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.mic.com/articles/175936/the-secret-instagram-accounts-teens-use-to-sharetheir-realest-most-intimate-moments

118

119

Finsta Nicole Pavlovic

As part of my research in identifying a keyword, I consulted with an adolescent family member of mine. I selected the keyword finsta, a word that I was unfamiliar with but intrigued to learn more about. As defined by Urban Dictionary, a finsta is an Instagram user’s fake account. Its meaning centres around the fact that some Instagram users will have a real Instagram account (rinsta) and a finsta. The real Instagram account is carefully curated and is accessible to the outside world and their extended social network, while the finsta is only shared with a small network of friends. The finsta account name is usually comical or includes a purposeful misspelling of the real account’s name. The account also typically features humorous or potentially compromising content that the user would not want to share with a larger online community (Kang & Wei, 1). Instagram launched as a social platform over a decade ago with the intention of featuring photography. However, over time, users began posting only the images that showcased themselves at their personal best (Kang & Wei, 3). This has become rather problematic, especially for younger and less critically literate users who tend to interpret these curated representations as someone else’s real life. They will then compare it to their own lives, which affects their overall self esteem and in some cases their mental health (Nesi, 118). Social media platforms have also been criticized due to their respective digital permanence; this refers to the irreversible nature of online posting where posts from the past can critically impact a person’s future (Nesi, 116). This has led to some users opting to make their social activity private in order to avoid the respective consequences if their parents, potential employers, or university recruiters came across it (Kang & Wei, 6). Additionally, not all followers of a person’s real Instagram account share the same core values, worldviews, and interests as the account holder. As a result, they need to be careful about what they post in order to avoid alienating themselves from their extended social network (Kang & Wei, 3). Even with the option to make an Instagram account

120 private, a finsta account is considered to be even more restricted than a private rinsta account as it is shared with a limited audience and is virtually unsearchable to prying parties (Kang & Wei, 5). Resultingly, the rinsta account becomes more of a manufactured representation of what the user wants the world to believe them to be: happy, accomplished, and appropriately behaved. Oftentimes these rinsta representations tend to be extremely deceiving displays of reality (Kang & Wei, 3). Contrastingly, the finsta showcases more of the user’s intimate inside stories, and in the context of adolescent development as outlined by Psychotherapist Margot Waddell in her book Inside Lives: Psychoanalysis and the Growth of the Personality, these stories are hard to access. This access is only granted to a small group of peers that the user feels comfortable with and accepted by (Kang & Wei, 7). Adolescence is a period of emotional struggle, physical change, finding oneself, experimentation, and risk taking (Gilbert, 35). The finsta account acts as a safe, judgement-free environment where the adolescent can share their deepest feelings. They can also explore their personality and interests outside of their family unit, as well as showcase their riskier behaviour with the friends they have designated to like and participate in their journey of self-discovery. The finsta gives the adolescent the autonomy they crave and allows them to express themselves however they choose, free from the influence of their parents’ expectations (Gilbert, 37). From the adult lens, a finsta account could be seen as problematic given the private nature of them, especially if the account holder is struggling emotionally and is only sharing this information with a small network of their peers instead of trusted adults (Nesi, 119). However, the adolescent development experience is universal in terms of its secrecy and risk-taking behaviour (Gilbert, 29). This universal truth will remain constant regardless of the existence of social media networks and finsta accounts. Adolescents are using finsta as a more honest form of self-expression and social bonding during an already challenging personal growth period. As a result, the finsta account should be free from adult encroachment and control. Instead, parents should make space for Instagram accounts, whether real or fake, as one of the many facilitating environments on the adolescent's journey towards growth and maturity (Gilbert, 34). To learn more about this keyword visit: Scholarly Journal: https://journals-scholarsportal-info.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/details/03623319/unassigned/nfp_l mbamfmfuffi.xml Other: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Finsta References (2017). Finsta. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved October 30, 2022, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Finsta Gilbert, J. (2014). “Chapter 2: There is no such thing as an Adolescent,” in Sexuality in school: The limits of education. University of Minnesota Press. Retrieved October 30, 2022, from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/york/reader.action?docID=1762170&ppg=1

121 Kang, J., & Wei, L. (2019). Let me be at my funniest: Instagram users’ motivations for using Finsta (a.k.a., fake Instagram). The Social Science Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2018.12.005 Nesi, J. (2020). The impact of social media on Youth Mental Health. North Carolina Medical Journal, 81(2), 116–121. https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.81.2.116 Waddell. (2018). Inside Lives: Psychoanalysis and the Growth of the Personality (Rev. ed.). Taylor and Francis.

122

FOMO Kathy Chen

123

FOMO Isabel De Bartolo The term "FOMO" stands for "fear of missing out." Since it is so prevalent in our daily lives, I believe it's one of the most important and genuine issues that has to be addressed within our generation. FOMO is the inability to delete Instagram because you are afraid of losing access to all the amazing people and lives you engage with on social media. When you view a Snapchat story of all your friends having fun without you, you may feel excluded. You must leave the house on a Friday night in order to avoid missing the opportunity to create yet another inconsequential memory. It is considerably more difficult to leave once you've involved yourself in these apps and websites that give you a self-created persona. These social media platforms and applications have a way of taking over our lives and becoming the go-to activity when everyone in a group is bored and hunched over their glowing phone screens in silence. FOMO is the idea that other people are having more fun, living better lives, or having greater experiences than you are. It involves a deep sense of envy, and it had an impact on one's self-esteem. In a number of ways, social media has intensified the FOMO epidemic. It presents a scenario in which you are contrasting the good points of your life with those of others. Your perception of what is "normal" changes as a result, and you start to perform worse than your peers. You might see detailed photos of your friends enjoying fun times without you, which is something that people may not have been so readily aware of in past generations. Social media gave rise to a platform for gloating; objects, occasions, and occasionally even happiness itself seem to be up for competition. People are contrasting their most idealised experiences, which could make you feel deficient. Teenagers who suffer from FOMO may neglect their own honest perception of life in favour of focusing solely on the experiences and financial goods of their friends. This causes a

124 loss of identity, low self-esteem, and a persistent sense of restlessness and uneasiness. Young people and adolescents may be especially vulnerable to FOMO's impacts. Peer pressure from FOMO might influence teenagers to engage in risky behaviours that they might otherwise avoid. Adolescences may take such activities without thinking about the long-term effects because their brains are still developing. Teenagers can very easily base their entire life on what they see online. They continuously compare their own lives to these posts because they observe, judge, and approve of every online move that others do. References: A teen explains how to deal with your Fomo. VICE. (2017, September 19). Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvj8g3/a-teen-explains-how-to-deal-withyour-fomo Beyens, Ine, Eline Frison, and Steven Eggermont. “‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’: Adolescents’ Fear of Missing Out and Its Relationship to Adolescents’ Social Needs, Facebook Use, and Facebook Related Stress.” Computers in human behavior 64 (2016): 1–8. Web.

125

FOMO Anita Gill The fear of missing out (FOMO) is an emotional response to the belief that others are having more fun, living better lives, or having better experiences than you are. FOMO usually leads to feelings of unease, dissatisfaction, depression and stress. It can affect self-esteem and is often worsened with the use of social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook. This term is not new to our era. As a matter of fact, it has been around for centuries as you can see evidence of FOMO in ancient texts. However, it has only been studied during the past few decades, beginning in 1996 by a marketing strategist named Dr. Dan Herman.4 And since the rise of social media, FOMO has been studied even more frequently. This is because social media has enhanced the FOMO phenomenon in many ways, as it gets you to compare your regular life to the highlights of other people’s. Adolescents use social networking sites at an incredibly high rate, and as a result are more likely to experience FOMO. Seeing friends and others posting on social media can lead teens to compare themselves and garner an intense fear of missing out on things that their peers are experiencing. Studies show that in some adolescents, FOMO can play a role in anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and risky behaviours.5 This is because FOMO can contribute to peer pressure, pushing teens to engage in dangerous behaviours that they would otherwise avoid. And

4 Herman1 D. Introducing short-term brands: A new branding tool for a new consumer reality. Journal of Brand Management. J Brand Manag 7, 330–340 (2000). doi:10.1057/bm.2000.23 5 Gupta M, Sharma A. Fear of missing out: A brief overview of origin, theoretical underpinnings and relationship with mental health. World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(19):4881-4889. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i19.4881

126 because the teenage brain is still in development, teens are likely to engage in such actions without thinking about the long-term consequences. This knowledge gives us better insight into what young people are experiencing. And it is likely that these experiences are being brought into the classroom and affecting teen’s abilities to learn and do well in school. Imagine a teen sitting at their desk thinking about the picture their friends uploaded on Friday night which they were not a part of. This will make them feel sad or upset and prohibit them from focusing on the lesson that the teacher is trying to cover in front of them. And they are not only missing an important lesson which could cause them to fall behind, but over time, repeated thoughts such as these can also cause depression, which can bring forth bigger issues such as a loss of motivation or desire to attend school and learn with peers altogether. Understanding what FOMO entails, where it comes from, and how it affects youth’s health and well-being is important to the study of adolescence and health as it helps educators make more informed decisions in relation to the attitudes that they bring into the classroom, as well as the teaching methods that they can utilise, so that their students can get the best learning experience possible. Academic source:

127 Non-academic source: https://www.tiktok.com/@summerlindsey02/video/7159897946115345666?is_copy_url=1&is_fr om_webapp=v1&q=fomo&t=1667789881502

128

Friendship Breakup Lexie Rivard During adolescence, we are often close with our friends, especially if we are not as close to our parents and families (Dolph, 2017). Friendships are a source of support, and studies show that being with peers after experiencing stress leads to fewer negative emotions compared to being alone or with family (Uink et al., 2017). Most would agree that friends are an important factor in adolescent well-being and mental health, as friends often help us deal with difficult times and are there to listen when we want to talk about relationship or family problems. Friendship dissolution, therefore, deserves its importance when we speak of young people as it is especially painful and lonely during adolescence, and can deeply affect the mental health of the teens involved. Though some may experience happiness and relief (as with romantic breakups) after the dissolution of a friendship, most will feel sadness and loss depending on the reason for the dissolution and who initiated the “breakup” (Flannery & Smith, 2021). For adolescents who may not yet have experience dealing with this kind of loss, it can be hard to navigate the feelings of grief and so as educators it may be a good idea for us to keep an eye out for friendships that may have ended and check up on our students to see if they may need additional support. I was surprised to find that there isn't a word in the English language that describes the ending of a friendship like there is for romantic relationships, for which we have words such as divorce and breakup. I searched far and wide for a single word that could encompass the meaning of the end of a friendship and its emotional consequences, but such a word simply does not exist. I eventually landed on “friendship breakup” for this assignment as I felt it conveyed the emotions associated with the event better, but it seems researchers prefer the term “friendship dissolution” as I encountered more scientific studies that use this wording. Does this lack of language to describe friendship dissolution suggest that the ending of a romantic relationship is more painful and significant than the ending of a friendship? Though this may be our perception, in reality, friendship breakups are similar to romantic ones and can be just as devastating, sometimes even more so if we have a particularly strong friendship bond with someone (Dolph, 2017). The lack of a word to describe friendship breakups may simply reflect the fact that as a society, we place higher importance on our romantic relationships and the impact they can have on our well-being and mental health. For teens going through the loss of a friendship, there may be a feeling of shame or a sense that they shouldn’t be feeling as upset as they are over the end of a friendship, but it is completely normal to feel grief as with a romantic breakup and I think it would be helpful if as a society we could start giving these emotional and devastating event the significance that they deserve. Bibliography Dolph, S. (2017, August 3). Why Friend Breakups Suck Just as Much as Romantic Ones. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/friendship-breakups

129 Flannery, K. M., & Smith, R. L. (2021). Breaking Up (With a Friend) Is Hard to Do: An Examination of Friendship Dissolution Among Early Adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 41(9), 1368–1393. https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316211002266 Uink, B. N., Modecki, K. L., & Barber, B. L. (2017). Disadvantaged youth report less negative emotion to minor stressors when with peers: An experience sampling study. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 41(1), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025415626516

130

Friendship During COVID-19 Sou Jin Kim According to ‘Britannica Encyclopedia’, Friendship is defined as a state of enduring affection, esteem, intimacy and trust between two people. In whole cultures, I believe that friendships are essential relationships throughout a person’s life period. It can’t be argued that friendship is also an important part to the study of adolescence and health. During adolescence, I think that teenagers’ identity comes from their social relationships, and teen friendships give adolescents a sense of acceptance and belonging. If a young person feels liked, supported, and accepted by friends, this can allow a sense of security and self-worth. Adolescents tend to increasingly spend more time with friends and less with family. This developmental trend had to be upended during Covid-19. One of the biggest changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought might be the quarantine and ‘stay-at-home’ orders. Many teens had to connect with their friends by talking on the phone and texting or zooming. It was difficult to find an opportunity to spend time with or talk to the friends they would mostly see outside of school. Peer communications moved to virtual spaces, which may have changed adolescents’ time use. While Covid-19 has applied pressure to the friendships, it has also proven their importance. I believe that meaningful social interactions play an important role in health, happiness, and lifespan. A Study ‘Friend Support and Internalizing Symptoms in Early Adolescence during COVID-19 (Bernasco, Nelemans, Van der Graaff, & Branje, 2021)’ observed that adolescents who had secure peer friendships prior to the pandemic, were less likely to manifest the stress of isolation and social distancing. I completely agree that adolescent friendships can be supportive in helping teens to overcome difficult times. As friendships are an essential source of wellbeing for adolescents, having strong friendships may protect against developing issues of depression. Friend support may be a shield against the effects of life issues, such as Covid-19 crisis, on mental health. The study ‘Friend Support and Internalizing Symptoms in Early Adolescence during COVID-19 (Bernasco, Nelemans, Van der Graaff, & Branje, 2021)’ found also that adolescents who maintained more pre-Covid-19 friend support reported notably less internalizing problems during Covid-19. ‘Friend support may directly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, for example, by reducing loneliness (Nangle et al., 2003).’ As can be seen from different studies,

131 adolescents who frequently spend time either online or offline with their friends could profit more from the friend support. Teens who don’t have caring friendships may be more likely to feel excluded from the peer group, and they may experience more difficulties and develop internalizing problems due to the Covid-10 crisis. To conclude, Adolescence is a period of forming a self-identity through friendship, and the support of friends is essential. In an unstable environment due to the Covid-19, teenagers needed an outlet to share their difficulties with close friends and to express their concerns. I believe that it has been helpful to accept situations positively and objectively through communications with friends. I would like to finish this assignment by quoting Helen Keller: “I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.” References Esther L. Bernasco, Stefanie A. Nelemans, Jolien van der Graaff, Susan Branje (2021). Friend Support and Internalizing Symptoms in Early Adolescence During COVID-19. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 31(3), 692-702 Nangle, D. W., Erdley, C. A., Newman, J. E., Mason, C. A., & Carpenter, E. M. (2003). Popularity, friendship quantity, and friendship quality: Interactive influences on children's loneliness and depression. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 32, 546-555. Novel : Phoebe Unfired (author : Amalie Jahn, 2021)

132

Fuckboy Danielle Park A keyword central to the development and health of adolescents is the term fuckboy (also spelt fuckboi or fuccboi). Today’s description of fuckboy is similar to player, womaniser or manwhore but speaks of more than just a man who sleeps with a lot of women. Fuckboy is a derogatory term used to describe men who exude arrogance, often have misogynistic tendencies, and will partake in immoral behaviour such as lying to get a woman to sleep with them. They are often attractive and take advantage of their looks. Rooted in African American Vernacular English, fuckboy was first heard in Cam’ron’s song “Boy, Boy” released in 2002 (Dwayne, 2016). In hip-hop culture, fuckboy was used to describe men who were considered weak, unmasculine, and lame (Zane, 2019). Around 2014 the word became popular in mainstream culture and is now most known by the newer definition. It is important to note that how the current definition was reached is likely due to appropriation of the word by white individuals who did not understand or take care to learn its prior meaning (Brown & Cooke, 2015). For the sake of this assignment, I will be analysing the mainstream definition and its influence on youth. This word is important to the study of adolescence and development because it describes a specific behaviour or character that youth will encounter as they navigate dating, relationships, and potentially sex for the first time. Fuckboy behaviour will have an impact on self-esteem, mental health, and youth interpretations of healthy relationships. An understanding of this term can give adults further insight into the challenges and social pressures adolescents encounter. Adolescents are at a stage in life where they are impressionable and often concerned with others opinions on their social standing. As they develop, this term seems to be highly influential on the self-esteem of both sexes. From the female perspective, fuckboy has negative connotations. Girls will often vent to their friends about meeting or dating guys who demonstrate “fuckboy behaviour” — leading them on, ghosting, and not texting back right away are a few examples. For fuckboys ghosting is a common method of discontinuing a relationship, particularly after they’ve engaged in sexual behaviour. When girls are ghosted they experience feelings of self-doubt, insecurity, and low self-worth (Thomas & Dubar, 298). However, the title fuckboy is not always seen in a negative light for young men. Due to toxic masculinity, some boys seem to covet the title. Being a fuckboy means that said individuals are able to “get girls” which often amounts to status or “clout” amongst their male peers. It is important that young men don’t emulate this behaviour in a misguided attempt to impress others. To conclude, the term fuckboy gives insight into common behaviour boys and girls will encounter throughout youth. Making sure youth are aware of these behaviours and their effects could be helpful in their adolescent journey. For additional resources I suggest visiting the sites below.

133 Resources: Urban Dictionary https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Fuckboy Gendered Insults in the Semantics-Pragmatics Interface https://ling.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/alumni%20senior%20essays/Scruto n_Eliza%20Senior%20Essay%20Final.pdf References Brown, K., & Cooke, J. (2015, August 21). The Definition of 'Fuckboy' Is Not What Bad Trend Pieces Are Telling You. Jezebel. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://jezebel.com/thedefinition-of-fuckboy-is-not-what-bad-trend-pieces- 1725157828 Dwayne, D. (2016, April 18). Quit Saying F**kboy: The History Behind an Ugly Word – Affinity Magazine. Affinity Magazine. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://affinitymagazine.us/2016/04/18/quit-saying-fkboy-the-history-behi nd-an-ugly-word/ Thomas, J. O., & Dubar, R. T. (n.d.). Disappearing in the Age of Hypervisibility: Definition, Context, and Perceived Psychological Consequences of Social Media Ghosting. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(3), 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000343 Zane, Z. (2019, January 17). Here’s What It Means When Someone Calls You a ‘Fuckboy’. Men's Health. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.menshealth.com/sexwomen/a32480556/what-is-a-fuckboy/

134

Ghost/ghosting/ghosted Jordan Kiritsis The term Ghosting refers to the practice of completely eliminating all forms of communication with someone with the intention of never having any contact with that person again. The ghoster, also known as the ghost, will typically anticipate that the ghostee will get the message and leave them alone. Ghosting can happen to anyone and can be done by anyone. This act can also be done in any type of relationship and at any stage of the relationship. Friends may ghost eachother, sexual parteners may do it, even couples may do it to eachother. However, the act is most commonly done by people who are in the talking stage prior to entering a relationship, or people who are sexually active without a lable of committment or exclusivity. The reasons for ghosting vary, but may include a lack of attraction, convenience, a change of heart towards the relationship, and safety. However, despite the reason the general understanding of the practice is that the ghoster no longer wishes to maintain a relationship of any kind, but does not have the courage or desire to say that directly. This term is important in understanding young people, as it provides us with insight into the communication style of the younger generation, which is primarily done using technology and social media. In the journal Disappearing in the age of Hypervisibility, Jhanelle Oneika Thomas observes how, “Overall, technology/social media was thought to play an integral role in perpetuating ghosting mostly because of the ease of connecting with others but also because of the element of anonymity and surveillance that it allows.” (Thomas 2021) This practice gives insight into how easy it is for young people to detach themselves from others, by using features like blocking and muting notifications. This illustrates the social values of young people and how easy it is to treat others as though they are disposable. This also gives us insight into the health and well-being of young people. While little research has been done on the effects of ghosting, Gili Freedman’s article Emotional Experiences of Ghosting notes how “ghosters were more likely to express guilt and relief, whereas ghostees were more likely to express sadness and hurt feelings. Ghostees also experienced more of a threat to their fundamental needs – control, selfesteem, belongingness, meaningful existence – than ghosters.” (Freedman, 2021). Ghosting may be especially difficult for adolescents to experience as they are left with no closure, and instead question themselves and their own worth. To live in a society where the person you are interested in and have feelings for could completely disappear off the face of the earth without any warning, illustrates how young people live with no guarantee of consistency within their social relationships. This also gives us insight into why young people may become desensatized in relationships or may have a hard time trusting and opening up to others. The practice of ghosting reveals the younger generations inability to confront the reality of their emotions and take responsibility for their actions. Ghosting allows people to avoid dealing with the pain that they cause others, and the practice promotes selfish and unhealthy attitudes towards relationships.

135

136 References Gili Freedman, Darcey N. Powell, Benjamin Le & Kipling D. Williams (2022) Emotional experiences of ghosting, The Journal of Social Psychology, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2022.2081528 Ghost. Urban Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ghost Thomas, J. O., & Dubar, R. T. (2021). Disappearing in the age of hypervisibility: Definition, context, and perceived psychological consequences of social media ghosting. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(3), 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000343 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW7rPIf2RBQ&t=24s

137

Ghosting Alana White What happens when your ‘Boo’ becomes a ‘Ghost?’ Ghosting refers to “the act of suddenly ending a personal relationship with someone, and without explanation, ceasing all forms of communication” (Thomas & Dubar, 2021). This can occur between friends, romantic partners, or even family. Ghosting can happen to anyone, but it is particularly important when trying to understand the experiences of adolescents, as it is a slang term that they use to describe what is happening in their social worlds. Moreover, ghosting has become increasingly common amongst youth. This is partially because our current culture relies heavily on the use of social media and digital communication, which allows for everything to be done online or via text, including initiating and ending relationships. People often engage in ghosting because they don’t want to hurt the other person (i.e., they think “direct” rejection is more painful), they lost interest, they fear conflict, or they want to protect themselves by avoiding an uncomfortable face-to-face conversation (Thomas & Dubar, 2021). So how does this relate to adolescents? Adolescents do not always have the emotional maturity to deal with nor express difficult emotions. One study found that emotional maturity in adolescents aged 15-18 was extremely unstable (Joy & Mathew, 2018). Perhaps some adolescents ghost others because they are not emotionally mature and therefore, they struggle to express difficult emotions and are unable to consider how their actions affect others. Another possibility is that they are not ready for a relationship. Adolescents are often in the process of

138 figuring out who they are and what they want and as a result they may not be ready for commitment. It is understandable that ghosting would cause the individual on the receiving end (the ghostee) to feel hurt, insecure, betrayed, and confused. Adolescents often look for validation and acceptance from those around them, whether that be peers or partners, and this helps them develop a sense of self-esteem. Ghosting is a form of social rejection and research has shown that adolescents who internalize social rejection have lower self-esteem and are prone to adverse mental health outcomes like anxiety or depression (Sebastian, 2012). Since ghostees have no opportunity to ask questions or receive closure that would help them process this experience emotionally, they are often left with self-doubt and self-blame. Additionally, since most individuals will experience their first romantic relationship during adolescence, ghosting can negatively impact how youth expect relationships to work and what types of communication are acceptable. In fact, psychologists have found that one’s first love is difficult to forget because memories from your adolescence leave “hormonal ‘imprints’ on the sensory areas of your brain” and during this time, “neurological developments” are impacting the development of one’s identity (Fellizar, 2021). When these critical relationships end abruptly, adolescents are left feeling unworthy. They may be hesitant to initiate new relationships or to open up emotionally. Ghosting can hinder adolescents’ ability to form meaningful relationships in the future, thus harming their overall well-being. Moreover, ghosting can also impact the mental health of the individual who does the ghosting. Although adolescents may be able to avoid the difficult emotions of the ghostee, they will ultimately be left to face their own. One study found that 60% of participants who ghosted felt short-term guilt or remorse (Thomas & Dubar, 2021). It is essential for adults to help youth

139 recognize the importance of expressing their emotions in healthy ways, especially since teens often have difficulty responding to feelings and remembering that they are temporary. Educators should also be aware of ghosting to better support their students’ well-being. Adolescents often express their internal lives through external actions. When a student constantly misses class or receives poor grades, this does not necessarily mean they don’t care; it could be the result of them trying to work through inner emotional turmoil.

To learn more, check out this recent study that focuses on adolescents’ motives for ghosting and the psychological consequences. Also listen to “Ghoster’s Paradise,” but be aware there is some swearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8oft8rQeaU References Fellizar, K. (2021, June 7). Psychologists explain why you can’t forget your first love. Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/wellness/why-you-cant-forget-your-first-love-according-topsychology

140 Ghosting Memes. [Image]. (2020). Memes. https://memes.com/blog/ghosting-memes-that-wontleave-you-hanging Joy, M., & Mathew, A. (2018). Emotional maturity and general well-being of adolescents. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy, 8(5), 1-5. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/MollyJoy/publication/333918195_Emotional_Maturity_and_General_WellBeing_of_Adolescents/links/5e327cc092851c7f7f0c39d8/Emotional-Maturity-andGeneral-Well-Being-of-Adolescents.pdf Sanghani, R. (2021). Five expert-approved break-up texts to send instead of ghosting. [Image]. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/8005c989-3226-435b-b87c-da5ece40fad3 Sebastian, C. (2012, November 4). Don’t leave me out! The British Psychological Society. https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/dont-leave-me-out Thomas, J. O., & Dubar, R. T. (2021). Disappearing in the age of hypervisibility: definition, context, and perceived psychological consequences of social media ghosting. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(3), 291-302. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000343

141

“Here” by Alessia Cara Mara Boldis The key word I decided to choose for this assignment is the song “Here” by Alessia Cara (2015). This song can be described as an introvert’s party anthem. ‘Cara wrote this song back in 2015 when she was sixteen, after coming home from a party that she did not feel that she belonged at’ (Song Meanings and Facts 2020). Cara has the listener understand her thoughts and emotions while attending the high school party she feels that she does not belong to, nor is enjoying. In the music video Alessia Cara is watching the party from the distance. This makes her appear as the ‘outcast’ or ‘the one that does not fit in’. When she enters the house party everyone except for herself is frozen. At the beginning she states, “Or I'm not listenin' or I'm indifferent/Truly, I ain't got no business here/But since my friends are here, I just came to kick it…” (Cara 2015). She describes how she is more comfortable with being at home than staying in an environment with a lot of ppl who are not close to her. Additionally, Cara questions why she followed her friends to the party. She feels that people see her coming off as anti-social. I chose to use the song “Here” by Alessia Cara as my keyword, because as described above it address how teenagers sometimes feel left out or like an outcast in big social gatherings, which can lead to being bullied, depression and anxiety. Many times, teens feel pressured to fit in a certain way, be on the ball with the current trends, or cool enough. Consequently, going to large social gatherings such as a party can be exhausting and terrifying for teens since, they might feel unwanted, lonely or like an outcast. As described in Waddell’s articles, relationships for adolescence are important for their development. They help make/shape an individual; make them feel validated. As she explains “…The perspective from which someone might view himself and his relationships with the world [is important]. Such are the paranoid-schizoid position and the depressive position. The theory of "positions" from which life and relationships

142 are experienced constituted a significant shift within psychoanalytic understanding, a shift away from an emphasis on the explaining and curing of discrete symptoms and towards one in which the developmental possibilities are traced in the person as a whole, in their relation with prevailing mental states” (Waddell 6). Thus, a student’s relationship and the way they fit into a social group really influences/can take control on their development and mental states. If that student feels unwelcomed to a particular group, it can get them to feel like Alessia Cara is feeling in her song “here”. Many of the times these individuals may also be bullied and alienated if they do not fit into the norms of the people apart of the large social gatherings. For my alternative medium representation, I decided to make a collage on what an adolescents may be feeling/reflecting themselves when being a part of these big social gatherings (ex. high school party). In my collage I divided the canvas into two sections. The section on the left represents the adolescent inner state feeling. I chose someone who is upset and sad and many of the words are in black in white with minimal colour. This is supposed to represent the youth’s misery, scaredness and negative emotional. I wanted to use text painting by having the colourless side represent the inner state of how a teenager may feel confused, scared, anxious and depressed inside. On the other hand, on the right side I chose to have many ‘positive’ words and colour to represent the liveliness persona the adolescent may be perceiving on the outside to their peers. For the person in the middle, I chose to include enhanced features such as a different eye, mouth, skin, hair etc. to illustrate the influence and pressure a teen must go through to ‘look a certain way’ or ‘fit in’. As explained earlier, many of the times, unfortunately, these adolescents are bullied because they do not fit in or even sometimes ‘are trying too hard to fit in’, hence a state of loneliness, depression and anxiety can arise in them.

143 In the article “What Teens Want: Barriers to Seeking Car for Depression” by Wisdom et al. examines the experiences of teenagers seeking and receiving care for depression from primary care providers. Interviews were conducted on these individuals to see what the prominent themes were for having teens feel this way. To add on in a well-known site called kidshealth.org “Coping With Cliques” also goes in depth about the idea of adolescents feeling like an outcast in large group gatherings (similar to Alessia Cara’s “Here”). Finally, if one wanted to inform/educate themselves more on the keyword “Here” they can look at KiddNation’s video on “Alessia Cara – Meaning Behind ‘Here’ – KiddNation 3/5”. Below are the links to the websites and article described above to be educated more about the keyword “Here”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4BmA7EAEI8 https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/cliques.html Wisdom JP, Clarke GN, Green CA. What teens want: barriers to seeking care for depression. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2006 Mar;33(2):133-45. doi: 10.1007/s10488-006-0036-4. PMID: 16489480; PMCID: PMC3551284. Works Cited AlessiaCaraVEVO. “Alessia Cara - Here (Official Video).” YouTube, YouTube, 26 May 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKp2CrfmVfw. “Coping with Cliques (for Teens) - Nemours Kidshealth.” Edited by Kathryn Hoffses, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, July 2018, kidshealth.org/en/teens/cliques.html. KiddNationTV. “Alessia Cara - Meaning behind ‘Here’ | Kiddnation 3/5.” YouTube, YouTube, 13 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4BmA7EAEI8. London, Amanda. “‘Here’ .” Song Meanings and Facts, 4 Oct. 2020, www.songmeaningsandfacts.com/here-by-alessia-cara/.

144 Waddell, Margot. Inside Lives: Psychoanalysis and the Growth of the Personality. ROUTLEDGE, 2019. Wisdom JP, Clarke GN, Green CA. What teens want: barriers to seeking care for depression. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2006 Mar;33(2):133-45. doi: 10.1007/s10488-006-0036-4. PMID: 16489480; PMCID: PMC355128

145

Homelessness Thorin Stryker Youth homelessness is a topic not discussed much in the media these days, with topics being focused on wild politics, celebrity stories, or things that are much easier to digest than reality. However, the truth about homeless youth is much worse than we could imagine. The statistics from just Toronto alone are shocking, and saddening to hear about. 1 in 11 homeless people in Toronto are youths. 1 in 100 youths will go homeless in Toronto each year. 32% of people experiencing homelessness will have experienced it before the age of 16. Youth shelters in Toronto are at 97% capacity. Every night, around 2000 youths experience homelessness (Youth without shelter, n.d). This is a crippling issue that youths in our own city, a very wealthy city that is, are struggling with. The mental health and development of so many adolescents and youths are being negatively affected by this epidemic, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Its impact reaches far beyond the poor souls that spend the night in halfway houses and couch-surfing, but also their peers and friends as well. When this was first brought to my attention in high school, I could not believe the numbers that were being shown to me. How could this be happening? What is causing all these youths to run away to homeless shelters? In my school that year there were roughly 1500 students. With the statistics provided, it meant that around 15 of my fellow classmates were living on the streets or in a shelter. This showed me that homelessness among adolescents is a big and serious issue that is facing young people in our world today. According to “Youth without shelter” and “Covenant House Toronto”, there are many causes of homelessness. For instance, it is said that over 60% of youths attribute abuse and trauma at home as the reason why they chose to leave, and 58% have had some involvement with child welfare and the foster home system before becoming homeless (Youth without shelter, n.d). This issue also greatly impacts the development of the child, as up to 65% of youths who experience homelessness do not complete high school. This is a fundamental issue that plagues our society, as the thought of what these children have to go through in their daily lives just to survive is heartbreaking and unimaginable. When an adolescent experiences such a traumatic event and is thrust into this set of circumstances, their entire lives are disrupted and are put on a hiatus. There is no enjoying their youth anymore, or living life to the fullest. Their minds no longer think about partying, the social antics of school, or mundane activities like homework and chores. Their minds must now focus on things far beyond their age category, like how they will eat, or how they will sleep. They are forcibly thrust into a life that is supposed to be relegated for those in a much later stage of life. Their youth and adolescent life are cut short, and forcibly removed from them. Gone are the traditional ideas of how kids grow over their development years, and in its place is trauma, depression, and anxiety. My heart goes out to the 2000 children that are sleeping in a foreign bed tonight, and I wish them the best in this cruel world that they are forced to live in. If you would like to read more about the issue of homeless youths in Toronto and Canada, please visit the links provided below. They are from charitable organizations that have homes and shelters for homeless youths in Toronto and the GTA. As well, I have included an article that

146 dives deeper into the youths themselves and the ways that society can intervene and assist those struggling with homelessness and its causes. Altena, A. M., Brilleslijper-Kater, S. N., & Wolf, J. R. L. M. (2010). Effective Interventions for Homeless Youth: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 38(6), 637– 645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2010.02.017 https://yws.on.ca/who-we-are/youth-homelessness/ https://covenanthousetoronto.ca/the-problem/youth-homelessness/ References Youth without shelter (n.d) Who we are https://yws.on.ca/who-we-are/youth-homelessness/

147

Hookup List Serena Ierullo When trying to better understand the behaviours of youth, it is essential that all aspects of their lives are taken into consideration. As teachers, our goal should not only to educate them, but to offer them guidance through some of the most overwhelming and challenging years of their lives. Today, the norms that have been created by the youth have drastically shifted in comparison to what they were known as 15 years ago. Young adolescents are eager to make the transition from being perceived as a child to a ‘cool teen’, and to achieve this status, they are experimenting through activities that in the past one would not partake in until they were in their late teenage years. One of these activities has been given the term ‘hooking up’ by today’s youth. In fact, this generation has moved away from the dating culture and gravitated towards adopting a culture of casual relationships (Aubrey and Smith, 2013). Hooking up has evolved from being recognized as a behaviour to a culture, it is a term that encompasses a variety of actions and is not limited to intercourse despite popular belief (Aubrey and Smith, 2013). As someone who is currently living in a generation where people are deeply invested in discovering who is hooking up with who, I thought this would be an interesting topic to try and understand how this has impacted my generation. The term I have chosen for my keyword assignment is ‘hookup list.’ Once hooking up became a norm, so did keeping track of one’s hookups, this is where the hookup lists come from. In my own experiences, I have even witnessed people who go as far as writing a number out of 10 next to the names of the people on their list in efforts to evaluate and label their interactions with them. It has been proven that youth believe that one’s status can be enhanced based on who they have hooked up with (Aubrey and Smith, 2013). A large element of hookup culture is the stories that are told to others; therefore, someone’s hookup list can be used as something to gloat about, or to degrade the people they have on there. To some, it may be

148 difficult for them to understand the actual purpose behind a hookup list, as all it truly is a compilation of names. Researchers have stated that these hookups are linked to self-expression and self-exploration, two concepts that are essential to the developmental period of young adulthood (Aubrey and Smith, 2013). In essence, these casual relationships serve as an outlet for them to express their newfound independence and sexual identity (Aubrey and Smith, 2013). Although some teachers may not see the importance of understanding hookup culture to better understand their students, it can be quite useful. The concept of keeping track of one’s hookups shows us how adolescents have taken the notion of evaluating others and themselves to a whole other level. Their lives have become centred around worrying about what type of person they want to project onto their peers, and how they will be able to maintain this image. This is something that can so easily consume them daily, as well as negatively impact their social and emotional well-being. Although it may appear as small and meaningless to some, a hookup list in our world today carries the power to entirely dictate someone’s life through their adolescent years. Two sources that can be used to better understand the purpose of keeping track of one’s hookups include the film The To Do List and the article Development and Validation of the Endorsement of the Hookup Culture Index.

Works Cited Aubrey, J. S., & Smith, S. E. (2013). Development and Validation of the Endorsement of the Hookup Culture Index. The Journal of Sex Research, 50(5), 435–448. http://www.jstor.org/stable/42002072

149

Iced Coffee Erin Webb Iced coffee is North America’s favourite summertime beverage; soothing, sweet, and satisfying. Over the last 10 years, the iced coffee industry has boomed, from Tim Horton’s infamous Iced Capp to the introduction of Starbucks’ Nitro Cold Brew. However, I think iced coffee is symbolic of the adolescent desire to explore their identity, fit in with peers, and experience new things. After emerging from a childhood where drinking coffee is discouraged or even banned, the urge to caffeinate is exciting. The problem is that black coffee is bitter to the naïve tastebud making flavoured, sweet, iced coffees the perfect transition. This became apparent to me during my community placement when I offered the 16-year-old students water, tea, or coffee. To my surprise, most of the class said something along the lines of “Yes, coffee!!”, along with sentiments like “I need coffee after my all-nighter,” and “I am so tired”. But when I began pouring cups of steamy drip coffee, I was met with looks of disappointment until one student said, “Wait, don’t you have ice?”. Almost everyone proceeded to fill their mugs with ice cubes, sugar, and whipped cream. The ability to customize an iced coffee provides the consumer with an outlet to try on new identities. For instance, the addition of a shot of pumpkin syrup might portray the “fall girl aesthetic”, whereas drinking a black, espresso might make one feel fancy and mature. In this way, the type of coffee you’re drinking on a given day can be an expression of self, like trying out a new hairstyle. Additionally, iced coffee is a teenage status symbol. Several studies show that adolescents drink caffeinated beverages to fit in and enhance their social image. In one focus group studying caffeine use in adolescents, teenagers were quoted saying “I don’t even like coffee, I just do it to fit in” and, “It’s cool to walk around with an iced coffee” (Ludden et al., 2017). As a high school student, if everyone in your friend circle brings a Frappuccino to class every day, you might feel left out or even be bullied if you don’t do the same. Furthermore, going out for coffee is an inherently social activity. As adults, we often catch up with friends over coffee or take coffee breaks with colleagues, it is built into our daily lives, but for teenagers, the experience of getting coffee is new and thrilling. It is fun to leave school for lunch with your friends to try the newest flavour of the month. It also provides an opportunity to meet different people outside of your classmates, demonstrated by the classic romantic comedy trope of developing a crush on the barista or the boy who always sits at the back of the café. Altogether, iced coffee is an outlet for self-expression, a means to feel included, and an opportunity to explore new people, places, and things. Academic Source: Ludden, A. B., O'Brien, E. M., & Pasch, K. E. (2017). Beliefs, behaviors, and contexts of adolescent caffeine use: a focus group study. Substance Use & Misuse, 52(9), 1196-1207. Non-academic source: Pellot, E. (2022, March 9). High school teacher sets up ‘Iced Coffee Bar’ for her morning students. In the Know. https://www.intheknow.com/post/high-school-teacher-iced-coffee-bar/

150

Ick Nicole Robb

The “Ick” is a feeling someone gets, immediately following a (sometimes insignificant) action or remark by someone you had previously felt infatuated by, that makes you feel a sense of disgust.

151 Urban dictionary explains that “...you just progressively get more and more turned off by them, weirdly & maybe for no reason in particular grossed out by them”. The term the “Ick” was made popular by a show called Love Island and then, as a result, grew in popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok and Twitter. Many subtweets and trends went viral with people, particularly teenager girls and young women, admitting what seemingly simple actions have turned them off from a potential partner. For instance, many heterosexual women have admitted that a man who chases after a coin that they dropped, then it started rolling away and they proceeded to chase after it, has given them an uncomfortable feeling, which eventually led to a lack of desire for that person almost immediately afterwards, also known as the “Ick”. Of course, this isn’t a feeling reserved for women, as men, various sexualities and gender-identities have also admitted to their experience of this feeling. Other examples of things that have given many the “Ick” include unusual laughs, randomly bursting into song, quoting movies, standing with your feet turned outwards, not liking certain animals, using certain emojis, voice cracks, knowing too much about a particular subject, not understanding references, not drinking water, drinking water too loudly, wearing socks to bed, not wearing socks indoors and so on... It typically comes down to personal preference, however, many people find some of them relatable and therefore reasonable. Some of these things are said to speak volumes about the persons character and is therefore a “red-flag”, such as not liking dogs and others are totally innocent quirks, that some people do not find attractive for reasons they can’t even explain themselves. Although this is not a feeling specifically reserved for teenagers, it is common amongst teenagers to use this term, as they start exploring the world of dating. It emphasizes the short-lived but intense emotions teenagers go through; one day they are convinced they are in love with a person, and the next they are not. As teenagers are navigating their feelings and emotions around attraction, this feeling of the “ick” is almost guaranteed to surface at some point. Resource List: 1. Academic Resource (Journal Article): Samadder, R. (2022). Got the ick? When a sudden pang of disgust ruins your romance. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jul/31/got-the-ick-when-a-pang-ofdisgust-ruins-yourromance#:~:text=An%20ick%20is%20a%20point,ick%2C%20despite%20your%20better%20ju dgment 2. Non-Academic Resource (A Song): The Ick by Madelynne Whit

152

Identity Kevon Webb Link to podcast: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ur7CJmd6opdn9c5O2ibtwjDuSMh8upP5/view?usp=share_link References https://parentandteen.com/developing-adolescent-identity/ https://actforyouth.net/adolescence/identity.cfm

153

Imposter Syndrome Naomi Catanus ‘Impostor syndrome’, less commonly referred to as ‘impostor phenomenon’, is a term dating back to the late 1970s that refers to the feelings of self-doubt and incompetence that an individual has in a certain role or position. Despite their success, individuals with impostor syndrome “often attribute their accomplishments to luck rather than to ability, and fear that others will eventually unmask them as a fraud” (Weir, 2013, as cited in Ralston, 2019, p. 191). While not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the main resource used to diagnose and treat mental disorders in America), impostor syndrome is also heavily linked to perfectionism and is acknowledged by psychologists to be a real condition often accompanied by anxiety and depression (Ralston, 191-192). Studies on impostor syndrome have historically been examined only at the individual level of analysis by scholars, even though the phenomenon is “often linked to women and members of ethnic minority groups” (Feenstra et al., 2020). Unfortunately, this means that individuals with impostor syndrome are usually blamed for having a problem and are made solely responsible for fixing it. However, impostor syndrome instead often results from the uncertainty that accompanies negative stereotypes, gendered roles, and underrepresentation within certain institutions. The use of the term ‘impostor syndrome’ has increased dramatically over the last decade. It has become the subject of more academic research and a topic discussed more by influencers and celebrities on social media. As a result, the term is commonly abused as a blanket term for general self-doubt or stress. However, attributing all feelings of stress and unbelonging to impostor syndrome can be dangerous to individuals that are, in reality, overworked or unsatisfied with the role they are in. Doing so pushes them to believe that they are simply not good enough

154 rather than realize that they are not well-suited to their role or are being abused in their current position (Goulding, n.d.). Nevertheless, this does not at all mean impostor syndrome does not exist – it affects not only working adults, but adolescents as well. While there is limited information regarding impostor syndrome in adolescents, impostorism in high schoolers is significantly linked to support from friends and classmates, parentification in childhood, perfectionism and irrational beliefs, depression, and suicidal thoughts or attempts (Bravata et al.). Feelings of fraudulency are also hypothesized to begin in early childhood and to be linked with family dynamics (Caselman et al., 2006). Furthermore, students who suffer from impostor syndrome experience a vicious cycle when faced with an achievement-related task such as an exam or project: they initially experience self-doubt and anxiety, which leads to procrastination or over-preparation, then ultimately to success with the accompanying “praise from authority, temporary elation, and relief” (Cromwell et al.). Unfortunately, students with impostor syndrome will continuously undergo this cycle when given other tasks that put them under an extreme pressure to achieve. This often causes them to develop a guilt and fear of success. Understanding impostor syndrome helps us to understand the experiences of young people since it not only affects them, but it is a term being increasingly used and spread by them, even just to express general feelings of unbelonging and self-doubt. These feelings must be considered and addressed by teachers, parents, and guardians in order to support the psychological well-being of youth and students. References: Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., Nelson, R. S., Cokley, K. O., & Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review. Journal of general internal medicine, 35(4), 1252–1275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1

155 Caselman, T. D., Self, P. A., & Self, A. L. (2006). Adolescent Attributes Contributing to the Imposter Phenomenon. Journal of Adolescence, 29(3), 395-405, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2005.07.003 Cromwell, B., Brown, N., Sanchez-Huceles, & Adair, F. L. (1990). The Impostor Phenomenon and Personality Characteristics of High School Honor Students. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 5(6), 563. https://ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarlyjournals/impostor-phenomenon-personality-characteristics/docview/1292241011/se-2 Feenstra, S., Begeny, C. T., Ryan, M. K., Rink, F. A., Stoker, J. I., & Jordan, J. (2020). Contextualizing the Impostor “Syndrome.” Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.575024 Goulding, S. (Host). (n.d.). Why We’re Ditching the Term ‘Imposter Syndrome’ with Dr Sarah Goulding (No. 112) [Audio podcast episode]. In You Are Not a Frog. https://youarenotafrog.com/episode-112-why-were-ditching-the-term-impostersyndrome/ Note: non-academic resource Ralston, Romarilyn. (2019). Schools, Prisons, and Higher Education. Critical Perspectives on Teaching in Prison, 188-194. https://www-taylorfranciscom.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781351215862-20/schools-prisonshigher-education-romarilyn-ralston

156

Inclusivity Victoria Villani GenZ is the new generation of adolescents. They are being described as a force to be reckoned with, being admired or sometimes hated for their political activism and focus on inclusivity. Inclusivity is defined as, “the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or mental disabilities or belonging to other minority groups” (Oxford Dictionary). The word inclusivity is often thrown around a lot when people or organizations try to sound appealing to the wider community, but it takes on a whole different meaning when it is put into practice. In recent years GenZ has been seen at the forefront of public protest/movements like #BLM, March For Our Lives, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and abortion rights. There is a sense of activism igniting in adolescents that are not unusuals for this age group but they definitely been the most vocal. Adolescents feel a sense of urgency to help their futures and feel they have the power in numbers. The biggest argument especially talked about on social media platforms is the idea that ‘old white men’ are the majority making life-changing decisions for the wider population. Inclusivity helps us understand the social justice focus adolescents tend to have which often disappears or diminishes as generations grow older. GenZ seems to have different plans by being much more active in the public eye about its push for inclusivity and its hope for change. Through social media activism, there has been more room to spread messages to wider audiences and reach people in high power. This word has a positive connotation but also leaves room for the negative, which would include part of this generation who subscribe to more conservative values or older generations who claim to not ‘understand’. Inclusivity also breeds exclusivity for people who try to argue that the push for inclusivity ‘discriminates’ or complicates their beliefs. Adolescents have allowed gender identities and preferences that were hidden from the public domain to thrive. When these ideas spread more widely, they connect with more people, thus including more people in various communities. Often people who oppose the notion of inclusivity see this boom of celebration of identity and expression as an infringement of their societal norms. They often associate movements or the fight for rights from groups mentioned above as a thing to be fearful of. These ideas opposing inclusivity are most widely seen on platforms like Twitter from close-minded individuals, Fox news etc. GenZ's focus on inclusivity is much more needed now than ever knowing how many opposing sides to gender, identity and race there are sharing their ideas for the purpose of harm and exclusivity. Inclusivity not only is important to activism movements but for a sense of belonging. That describes adolescents, and their urge to create a community and a world where they can all fit in. Reference List:

157 Luttrell , R., & McGrath, K. (2021). Gen Z : the superhero generation. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. Ricee, S. (2017, February 28). What is Inclusivity? Diversity for Social Impact. Retrieved from https://diversity.social/inclusivity/

158

Insecurity Julia Bocale Here are two readings I used to gain my main points and ideas and helped inspire my thinking for my keyword Insecure. I also recommend looking to Persepolis 2 as a good example of society having influences on adolescents' insecurity. Allen, Sharee Nicole, "Adolescents, Social Media, and the Use of Self-Portraiture in Identity Formation" (2015). LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations. 150. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/150 Social Media and self-doubt. Child Mind Institute. (2022, September 2). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://childmind.org/article/social-media-and-self-doubt/

159

Intersectionality Natalie Mandarino Intersectionality refers to the interconnected and multidimensional social categorizations that converge and result in interdependent systems of discrimination (Crenshaw, 2018, p. 57). The term was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American advocate and lawyer, who identified the ways in which race and gender discrimination overlapped in relation to the societal oppression of black women. Intersectionality is deeply rooted in the black feminist movement, in which Crenshaw shed light on the unique legal challenges that protected white women and black men but failed to address the racialized and gendered disadvantages of black women in the legal case of DeGraffenreid v. General Motors (Crenshaw, 2018, p. 58). Crenshaw argued that the issues around black women should not be divided as separate oppressions, but rather, as intersecting identities that compound themselves and create obstacles which are not often understood in singular and conventional frameworks. With this in mind, the intersecting forms of discrimination include, but are not limited to, race, gender, class, sexuality, age, ethnicity, and disability. Intersectionality encourages individuals to examine one’s environment of privilege and engage with issues concerning unequal power relations, which primarily adheres to dominant hierarchies of whiteness, masculinity, and heterosexuality (Crenshaw, 2018, p. 58). The framework is crucial to the study of adolescent development and health as overlapping disadvantages that can be present and active at the same time shape the norms of belonging and exclusion in an adolescent’s life. The social context in which adolescents establish their sense of self accounts for the structures of power and privilege that determine their everyday lived experiences (Crenshaw, 2018, p. 59). In this way, it is evident that the experiences of a white, heterosexual, and able-bodied female student will vastly differ from the experiences of a disabled female student of color in the LGBTQ+ community. The societal

160 narratives and structures that shape norms and boundaries can significantly influence an adolescent’s social attitudes and beliefs, which, as a result, can impact their behavior and the ways in which they conduct themselves in the scope of social contexts. Notably, the process of gaining awareness of one’s intersecting oppressions, can contribute to the healthy identity development of adolescents. Adolescents can determine how their identities influence their social and political locations in the world which will aid them in understanding their evolving beliefs and behaviors on both individual and societal levels. In the realm of education, intersectionality signifies the importance of equitable educational opportunities, which rely on educators to recognize and acknowledge the unique disadvantages of students that change in combination. To develop an understanding of adolescents means to delve deep into the norms, expectations, and lived realities that they endure throughout the process of identity development. Educators may address intersectional identities in the classroom setting by inspiring holistic learning that reflects the diverse lived experiences of all students and by eliminating the implementation of limited perspectives, histories, and knowledge. Gaining deeper insight into the ways in which adolescents navigate their multitude of identities, with reference to their social environments and lived experiences, can also assist teachers in developing curricula that adheres to the interests and demands of students and in fostering an inclusive classroom atmosphere. Therefore, it is crucial to gain insight into the concept of intersectionality, which outlines the interdependent systems and experiences of discrimination for youth, and significantly impacts the dynamic and essential process of identity development amongst all adolescents.

References

161 Crenshaw, K. (2018). Why intersectionality can’t wait. In M. Hobbs & C. Rice (Eds.), Gender and Women’s Studies: Critical Terrain, Second Edition (pp. 57-61). Toronto, Ontario: Women’s Press. Crenshaw, Kimberlé. (2016) “The Urgency of Intersectionality”. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOe5-UsQ2o Hopkins, Peter. (2018) “What is Intersectionality?”. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1islM0ytkE&t=1s Soyheat. (2017) “Kids Explain Intersectionality”. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzbADY-CmTs

162

IUD Stephanie Snopek A keyword central to the study of adolescence and health is IUD. An IUD, which stands for “intrauterine device,” is a “T” shaped device, about the size of a quarter, that is placed inside a woman’s uterus to prevent pregnancy. Two types of IUDs exist; one periodically releases progestin, a synthetic chemical that mimics the effects of the hormone progesterone, while the other is copper-coated. Both IUDs prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the sperm from fertilizing the egg and implanting. The hormonal IUD works by releasing (daily) a small amount of a progestin called levonorgestrel into the reproductive system (Toler, 2022). The copper IUD, by comparison, alters the fluids in both the uterus and fallopian tubes using the properties of copper, making them inhospitable to sperm (2022). While both types are very effective at preventing pregnancy, neither protect against sexually transmitted infections.

The first

documentation on the

IUD was published in 1909 by Dr. Richard Richter of Germany (Margulies, 1975). Before the 20th century, there is no evidence of his idea to insert foreign objects, specifically a ring made of silkworm gut, into the human uterus to act as contraception. In the mid-1920’s, Ernest Graefenberg introduced a similar version which had the addition of a silver wire wrapped around it. For several years after that, different doctors around the world wrote about their successes and failures using various variations of intrauterine devices. It was not until 1969 that their effectiveness was revolutionized by Dr. Howard Tatum who (essentially) devised a simple

163 plastic T device that women tolerated well (Margulies, 1975; Corbett, 2018). Soon after, the contraceptive effect(s) of copper and progesterone was discovered and, by the turn of the century, both the copper IUD and hormonal IUD had been born. It is in the opinion of the author that IUDs help us understand the experiences of young people for one very simple reason: they are a form of birth control. During adolescence, major psychological as well as biological developments take place, including the development of one’s sexuality (Kar et al., 2015). In other words, this critical developmental period is one wherein a person’s thoughts, perceptions, and responses get coloured sexually (2015). Puberty is reached during this time, which in and of itself is a major landmark in the development of sexuality. Hormones, social factors (e.g., different types of media, such as music), and even environmental factors (e.g., the political climate) experienced at this time also influence an adolescent’s interest in sexual relationships (Karl et. al, 2015). As such, young people, especially women, seek methods of birth control so as to avoid unwanted pregnancies (2015). IUDs are tied to youth’s health and well-being in a number of ways. As one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy, they are recommended by experts as a good birth control option particularly for teens and younger adults because they are (for the most part) safe, last several years, and require no daily care (Gordon, 2022). Additionally, they can be used as emergency contraception and the hormonal IUD specifically can help treat women who suffer from conditions like anemia and severe cramps (Planned Parenthood, 2022). Moreover, adolescents are at high risk of unintended pregnancy and, as such, benefit from increased longacting, reversable contraception methods, such as IUDs (Hoh, 2014).

164 Link to academic source where the reader can go to learn more about IUDs: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2018/05/adolescentsand-long-acting-reversible-contraception-implants-and-intrauterine-devices Link to non-academic source where the reader can go to learn more about IUDs: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud References Corbett, M. (2018, June 12). A history: The iud. Reproductive Health Access Project. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.reproductiveaccess.org/2013/01/a-history-the-iud/ Gordon, L. P. (Ed.). (2022, January). The IUD (for teens). KidsHealth. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/contraception-iud.html Hoh, M. (2014, July 16). Is this teenager a good candidate for an IUD? HCPLive. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.hcplive.com/view/is-this-teenager-a-good-candidatefor-an-iud Kar, S. K., Choudhury, A., & Singh, A. P. (2015). Understanding normal development of adolescent sexuality: A bumpy ride. Journal of human reproductive sciences, 8(2), 70–74. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-1208.158594 Margulies L. (1975). History of intrauterine devices. Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 51(5), 662–667. Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. (2022). What are the benefits & advantages of the IUD? Planned Parenthood. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud/what-are-the-benefits-of-iuds

165 Toler, S. (2022, August 8). What the latest research says about how the hormonal IUD and the copper IUD work. The IUD: How the hormonal IUD and the copper IUD work to prevent pregnancy. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/how-doiuds-prevent-pregnancy

166

IYKYK✨ Kaitlyn Cordeiro Do you even know what this means? Well, to be fair, if you know, you know. IYKYK is an abbreviation that is popular amongst adolescence, specifically older adolescent who are on social media. Basically, if you were there, you’d know what we’re talking about. But if you weren’t there, then you wouldn’t understand. This word signifies exclusive information or jokes that is only available to those who were there or to those who were aware of the situation. Promoting exclusive information, this term is often held to those who can be apart of the clique or that know how to stay up with the trends. IYKYK is exclusive for those who are privy to the inside joke, generation, clique, etc. To most adolescents, fitting in is extremely important. Being cool or trendy is something that has been popular amongst the masses, specifically digitally. Teens use social media as a connecting power, and Mery Diaz and Benjamin Shepard write, “Behavioral rehearsals are considered positive and are indicative of Facebook use, where adolescents adapt their profiles, read those of their friends, engage in comparison, and then further adapt their profiles to fit in with the norms of the community” (Diaz and Shepard 2019). Whether it is through social media or at an event, it feels important for a teen to be apart of something. You can walk down a high school hallway and amongst the chatters, you will most likely hear, “did you see that insta post?” or “that tiktok was insane!” and embarrassingly enough, if you did not see these posts, you’re probably going to be left in the dust. Often, the exclusive social media posts that have “iykyk” are streamed for a specific audience, and if it comes up on your page but you don’t know, this probably will make you confused or left out. Looking at figure on the left, if you were at the party, you would know why Robin Joie made this tweet – it’s an inside joke. Why is this significant to adolescent? Being left out instills FOMO within adolescence, making them feel isolated. Being included, or at least accepted, is something that alludes a sense of belonging. Feeling accepted or included also promotes connections between others and build relationships. But what if that doesn’t happen? What if a kid does not fit in? According to Rachel Norman, “acceptance and belonging are basic human needs. If a person doesn’t find acceptance within their family and peers, they will begin to exhibit symptoms of rejection” (Norman, 2022). This does not necessarily promote being the same as other, but rather, this involves inclusivity and accepting personalities. Teaching adolescents that it is okay to be different, and to make everyone feel welcomed, we should be making them feel included as well. That is why this is such a keyword for adolescence – belonging and acceptance is what we look for, but if you don’t “know”, then how is it possible?

167 IYKYK is catering to a specific crowd who shared, or care to share, the same experience. When you are included in this, it feels great. You can relate to others, feel included and also have a sense of importance. But if you don’t, it can be hurtful. It’s quite damaging to know that you are an outsider. And with adolescent years being so crucial in development, it can be quite harmful to some. However, this is something that not everyone understands. Truthfully, one way to put it is that those who get it, do. Those who don’t, don’t. Essentially, if you know, you know –you know? Bibliography Diaz, M., & Shepard, B. (2019). Narrating Practice with Children and Adolescents. Columbia University Press. Grund, T. U. (2014). Why Your Friends Are More Important and Special Than You Think. Sociological Science, 1, 128-140. https://doi.org/10.15195/v1.a10 Iykyk. Urban Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=iykyk Norman, R. (2021, July 31). Why kids need to fit in before they can be themselves. A Mother Far from Home. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://amotherfarfromhome.com/help-your-childsocialize/ Vicente, V. (2022, October 28). What does "IYKYK" mean, and how do you use it? How. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.howtogeek.com/745142/what-does-iykyk-mean-and-howdo-you-use-it/

168

Jane and Finch Wileene Grace Olimpo

169

Juul Sloan Kenter The key word that I am choosing to relate towards youth and adolescence is “juul”. A juul is an object; it’s a small electronic cigarette that has an appearance similar to a USB drive. The juul’s history is quite short, as it was first released in June, 2015. Its name is derived from the company that produces it: JUUL. However, the verb “to juul” has become popular amongst adolescents since the late 2010’s. When one inhales from the tip of a juul, a vapor is produced that is derived from the juul “pod” that contains its juice. This process is called “juuling”. The makeup of juul vapor, the vaporized juice, is composed of glycerin, an amount of nicotine, and flavouring. While juuls have proven to be a healthier alternative for nicotine-addicted individuals who smoke cigarettes, many non-smoking and underage teenagers from Generation Z have picked up on the fad of juuling. The company JUUL offers a variety of juul pod flavours such as mint, mango, and crème to appeal to younger users (Bach, p.1). As juuls are presented as “safer” in contrast to tobacco cigarettes, the product is seen by some teenagers as harmless. However, the idea that juuling lacks any negative impact towards adolescents’ health is unproven. Studies have shown that teenagers have become addicted to juuling, in a way that is similar to that of smoking. There are concerns that the juul can function as a gateway towards other substances, such as cigarettes and marijuana. In fact, vape devices that contain marijuana oil pods have already become popular in recent years. As we know, peer pressure plays a major part in adolescents' lives; drug and substance abuse often occur as a result. Sadly, while the company JUUL claims that its social media advertising is directed towards adult smokers, their advertisements have primarily reached teenagers aged 15-17 (Wagoner, p.1). This fact ties in with the way that adolescents usually find access and interest in products: social media advertisements. Juul addiction helps demonstrate how adolescents cope with stress in their lives.

170 For example, one student mentioned ““The reason I started was some bad things going on. My parents divorced and it helped me calm down” (Wagoner, p.6). Perhaps, some adolescents believe that juuls are the safest choice for addiction in comparison to drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, adolescents who find themselves addicted to juuls may have a hard time quitting. This is because teenagers may have a hard time finding the resources to quit. As a young adolescent, it is illegal to juul, as the legal age to juul is 21 in the United States and 19 in Canada. This leaves underage adolescents with the option of eschewing juuling and most likely defying peer pressure, and/or risking admitting their behaviour to their parent(s)/guardian(s) and getting into trouble/receving punishment (Wagoner, p.7). While juuling has decreased in highschools by 19.6% since 2020 (Bach, p.2), this statistic does not take into account the lack of in-person learning in high schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, teachers, educators, and parents should be aware of the trends and dangers regarding vaping. Above all, it is illegal for adolescents to juul. While it is important for adolescents to take risks, they should be encouraged to take risks that are not detrimental to their mental and physical health. Work Cited Bach, Laura. “JUUL and Youth: Rising E-Cigarette Popularity.” Tobacco-Free Kids, 2021. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0394.pdf. Wagoner, K. G., King, J. L., Alexander, A., Tripp, H. L., & Sutfin, E. L. (2021). Adolescent Use and Perceptions of JUUL and Other Pod-Style e-Cigarettes: A Qualitative Study to Inform Prevention. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094843

171

Juul Aleksandra Sus The JUUL was the first rechargeable vaping device that gained its popularity, as its colourful flavours caught the eyes of many young people. Initially vapes were made to help smokers quit cigarettes, but ironically, they attracted more people and ended up being just as addictive as cigarettes. A JUUL looks very similar to a thumb drive. The JUUL is rechargeable and comes with cartilages you change, referred to as "pods". The cartilages are usually sold by flavour, most commonly in a pack of four. Some popular flavours include: mango, blue raspberry, crème Brule, mint, fruit, even classic tobacco and so on. The level of nicotine differs depending on the buyer's preference. Most commonly the strength purchased was 5.0 percent of nicotine. Due to its attractive flavours, they didn't carry any type of bad smell like cigarettes. Thus, it was very easy to hide such an object. Vaping in your bedroom, in school bathrooms, in public spaces was seen as the norm. No one even thought about secondhand smoke because "it just didn't smell bad". It was very normal to enter a bathroom in high school and have teenagers passing around their Juul or any vaping device. Many even secretly smoked in class as the smoke can be easily inhaled through the lungs thus not be released. Even more common was to have Juuls at social gathering or parties. Vaping and drinking went hand-in-hand, if you drank you smoked. For those that did not smoke marijuana, they vaped when they partied. This was the standard picture of what being social as a Gen Z youth looked like, and still does. In more recent times, many began to speak up about the dangers of vaping. Vaping using has increased by 900% amongst middle schoolers and high schoolers. Many have been hospitalized for excessive vaping in which they shared their stories on social media platforms encouraging young people not to vape. Thus, the recent outbreak of lung injuries raises severe concerns in for our current generation. After this news reached the media, the brand JUUL themselves were pressured to stop producing flavoured pods to decline youth vaping rates in Canada by public health advisers. You can now only purchase tobacco and mint flavoured pods for a Juul, for a hope in appeal decline. Unfortunately, after that occurrence, more brands became more commonly used and continued to make these eye-catching flavours. Vaping continues to be a very serious issue for adolescence health. This toxic culture often seems unescapable, as many who are aware of the consequences are peer pressured into trying the product. Yet, due to its highly addictive substance, "trying it" turns into vaping daily. Moreover, it is commonly said between young people that vaping triggers their anxiety. With anxiety and stress being such a common aspect in most young people's lives, vaping not only is extremely bad for one's physical health but their mental. Many young people will ignore the dangerous of it as there “aren’t that many cases”. It is unfortunate how many young people are at health risk with not many quitting and more starting to vape. It is not surprising that young people, especially at the ages of 18 and younger are influenced, it really shows how carefree they are at that age, and do not give it the time of day to think about the possible consequences. The peer pressure to smoke and drink will continue to happen regardless of if health administrators will provide proof of danger. Just as smoking cigarettes is still common regardless of being 30 times more likely to die than someone who does not. It makes it even more prominent of how severe addiction really is, as even knowing the dangers does not stop smoking from happening. I believe the rise of e-cigarettes is this generations version of cigarette smoking. Many young people will get addicted and carry on their addiction till health problems occur. It is our duties as educators to try and best and provide detailed dangerous to discourage youth at schools not to vape as physical and mental health is at risk.

172 Resources Academic: King, Brian A., et al. "The EVALI and Youth Vaping Epidemics — Implications for Public Health." The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 382, no. 8, 2020, pp. 689-691. ProQuest,https://ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly -journals/evali-youth-vaping-epidemics-implications-public/docview/2358741790/se-2, doi:https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1916171. Non-academic: “Focus on Your Reasons to Quit.” Smokers Helpline, Canadian Cancer Society, https://smokershelpline.ca/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=O N_Sept_Nov_2022&gclid=CjwKCAjwtp2bBhAGEiwAOZZTuCcfzhSb1aSPMRBJhEM 6Jf1mFCHnC3l5U3d_lNlSfyHuw7GNjnvp-xoC8w0QAvD_BwE.

173

K-Drama Julia Hoang Korean dramas (K-dramas) are an increasingly chosen form of entertainment in adolescents, notably East Asian American adolescents. K-dramas grew globally in popularity following the Korean Wave, coined in 1990s to represent the worldwide spread of South Korean culture. Despite that each K-drama has no more than 24 episodes, with each episode being approximately an hour long, the range of stories that K-dramas portray tap into many cultural and societal themes to which many viewers can connect and relate in their own lives. Today, through streaming sites such as Netflix and Disney+, K-dramas can be easily accessed from across the world. Korean dramas have become increasingly more popular in the West, with KDramas such as Squid Game and Crash Landing on You recently becoming hit series on Netflix. K-dramas can help us understand the experiences of young people as K-dramas have developed in appealing to an adolescent and young adult audience and East Asian adolescents also lean towards watching K-dramas for representation. Appealing more to an adolescent and young adult audience, K-dramas now reflect cultural and societal issues within Korea and across the globe. For example, SKY Castle depicts the struggles of a student and family life, expectations in academics, and mental health and depression. The complexity of issues and themes that are reflected in K-dramas allow for the youth audience to connect with and better understand themselves through these stories. Additionally, East Asian adolescents, in in search of accurate representation, lean towards K-dramas as opposed to Western depictions of East Asians. In the Western film industry, East Asian actors are still often seen playing stereotypical roles or are underrepresented. Even though there has been more inclusion of East Asians in Western media in the more recent years, there is still quite a lack of accurate representation of East Asians. There is still a dissonance between how East Asians are portrayed in media as opposed to real

174 life. As a result, East Asian adolescents seek representation elsewhere and watch Korean dramas to see East Asians in a multiplicity of roles; seeing East Asians in the role of a journalist (Twenty-Five, Twenty-One), a depressed teen (Seasons of Blossom), or a weightlifter (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo) — to name a few — show adolescents of this minority group that people who look like them can be more than just a stereotype. Furthermore, secondgeneration Asian immigrant adolescents look towards K-dramas to better understand the culture of which they take part. K-dramas show adolescents people who look just like them, but also the stories within K-dramas reflect Eastern cultural norms that can serve as a bridge between a second-generation Asian immigrant’s identity and allow them to embrace this aspect of themselves. K-dramas nowadays cater to the youth audience in reflecting the struggles that adolescents can relate with and learn more about themselves. The research of K-dramas and its relation to East Asian adolescents is also worth further study on the minds of youth and their health and well-being as this concept is an increasing topic amongst Asian youth in understanding their cultural identity and finding representation. Academic Sources: To learn more, please see this link on the definition of K-Dramas and its growth and read this journal article about how newer Korean dramas represent social issues and promote discussion in Korean society. Muñoz, A. (2022, August 23). The Rise of K-dramas: How K-dramas Took The World By Storm: 'Squid Game', 'Crash Landing on You' & More. Hollywood Insider - News Entertainment & Culture. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/k-dramas-rise/

175 Baldacchino, J. P., & Park, E. J. (2020). Between Fantasy and Realism: Gender, Identification and Desire among Korean Viewers of Second-Wave Korean Dramas. European Journal of East Asian Studies, 20 (2), 285-309. Non-Academic Source: Also, this forum post on Reddit helps explain more on how Asian Americans in general lean towards K-dramas to find representation, overcome internal bias and understand more about their cultural identity. [deleted]. (2020). Representation heals: How watching K-dramas lifted the weight of white supremacy and freed my tongue [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/KDRAMA/comments/mbii2k/representation_heals_how_watc hing_kdramas_lifted/

176

Loneliness Adam Mingorance According to the Oxford English Dictionary, loneliness is a feeling of sadness because one has no friends or company. There is extensive scientific literature linking loneliness to lower mental and physical health, as well as increasing the rate of all-cause mortality (i.e. lonelier people die younger). Furthermore, the opposite of loneliness, having a satisfying social network, is linked to better health and increased recovery from health problems. Preventing loneliness is especially important during adolescence, as at this age, the brain is developing concepts of self and selfworth. Thus, loneliness at this time period can perpetuate into the rest of an adolescent’s lifespan. Therefore, understanding and preventing loneliness is crucial to the study of adolescence and health. The term loneliness developed relatively recently, having derived itself from the term “oneliness” which meant to be alone. Loneliness started being used in English at the beginning of the 19th century. Importantly, the associated term “oneliness” did not have any negative emotional connotations, but simply described the state of being alone. Sadly, in the 21st century, loneliness is becoming a problem that is only increasing in prevalence. Rates of loneliness and friendlessness are increasing, and the associated mental health problems along with it (not to suggest that loneliness is the sole cause of these problems). This is especially true for young people. We need to understand what it means to be lonely and how to prevent people from experiencing it chronically if we are to help our adolescents from problems such as depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, or even suicide. Loneliness is a vital keyword for educators in particular. We as future or present educators are at the forefront of the lives of adolescents, and importantly we are in a guiding/ role model position. More work needs to be done to figure out how educators and parents are to work around loneliness in terms of prevention and rehabilitation if we are to change the current course of increasing loneliness.

177 This word reminds us that the youth are vulnerable, but it also reminds us to do our best to understand. Adolescents are more vulnerable to their environment than adults are. Adults can for the most part move their physical living space, associate with whomever they choose, and work at things they enjoy. However, adolescents’ worlds are much more determined by their parental and community environment, and they have less resources to change this if they desire. Overall, if youth are vulnerable to problems from their environment, such as poverty, mental health problems, physical health problems, or loneliness, they are less able to help themselves or change their environment. The word loneliness also reminds those in roles of guidance that adolescents are alone in their stage of life. They are not adults nor children, and it should be expected and encouraged that they seek relations with their peers to combat feeling lonely. Sources Adolescent Loneliness and Health in Early Adulthood, Bridget J. Goosby et al. Sociol INq. 2013 Nov 1; 83(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3810978/ Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Greenday

178

Loneliness Jaskarin Shergill Loneliness is an experience many adolescents face. Loneliness encompasses two concepts: a companion's physical absence and grief because of a lack of companionship (Laursen and Hartl, 1261). Loneliness is social separation, understood through physical isolation (Laursen and Hartl, 1261). Also, loneliness can be perceived as social isolation (Laursen and Hartl, 1261). Humans are sociable beings, and more households are becoming smaller units. Smaller families mean that adolescents may be isolated a lot when they are at home. Loneliness has many adverse effects ranging from mental health and feelings of isolation. Adolescents often have an increased risk of facing physical isolation. They also face increasing chances that these experiences appear as social isolation and loneliness (Laursen and Hartl, 1262). Social isolation refers to a lack of social interaction, which can happen when others are around, and there are no relationships. (Laursen and Hartl, 1262). Unwelcome social separation is isolation or loneliness (Laursen and Hartl, 1262). It is still being determined how brain development contributes to the emergence of loneliness during adolescents (Laursen and Hartl, 1262). Adolescents' young age means it is essential for them to interact with their peers. Long periods of isolation will negatively affect them and result in them being continuously isolated from others. When adolescents' social interactions fall short of expectations, loneliness can be interpreted as an unpleasant feeling (Laursen and Hartl, 1262). Loneliness is characterized by a perception of separation instead of isolation (Laursen and Hartl, 1262). Adolescents may feel lonely even while surrounded by others, especially if they believe they have nothing in common (Laursen and Hartl, 1262). Loneliness typically coexists with various mental health issues, especially sadness and anxiety (Laursen and Hartl, 1262).

179 Many adolescents experience loneliness, and these adolescents have a higher likelihood of experiencing adverse mental health outcomes, such as sadness, stress, and self-harm (Matthews & Shuttleworth, 2022). However, more extended periods of loneliness did not seem to add to a heavier burden on mental health (Matthews & Shuttleworth, 2022). Adolescents who had experienced loneliness had graduated from high school with unsatisfactory grades (Matthews & Shuttleworth, 2022). Researchers studying loneliness in adolescents found that lonely young adults struggle to find employment (Matthews & Shuttleworth, 2022). Adolescents may struggle during and after school due to loneliness impacting their mental health. While addressing loneliness in adolescents is important because it is linked to several mental health issues. The school environment may be essential for developing interventions for this age. Not addressing loneliness in adolescents will negatively impact mental health and education. It is essential to understand the impact of loneliness on adolescents to help them manage their emotions and experiences. References Laursen, B., & Hartl, A. C. (2013). Understanding loneliness during adolescents: Developmental changes that increase the risk of perceived social isolation. Journal of adolescents, 36(6), 1261-1268. Matthews, T., & Shuttleworth, C. (2022, May 10). The long shadow of loneliness in adolescents — Inspire the Mind. Inspire the Mind. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.inspirethemind.org/blog/the-long-shadow-of-loneliness-in-adolescents

180

Main Character Emma Vicencio Upon hearing this term, one can respond to it with the textbook definition of it being a central character within any story. Yet for adolescents, the term has taken an entirely new image under their glossary of common catchphrases. To put it in simple terms, being a “main character” revolves around this fantasy that you are the star of indie movie who is characteristically quirky, extroverted, and has an eccentric way of dressing (Racster, 2020). The term was introduced to TikTok in 2020 and has since become a trend after an audio snippet was released by Ashley Ward (Richardson, 2021). The audio emphasized the need for people to start romanticizing their lives and start thinking of themselves as the “main character,” which sparked interest amongst many people online (Richardson, 2021). Namely adolescents flocked towards this audio and began creating short videos that highlighted their best and most exciting moments. This phrase correlates to the experiences of adolescents, as it facilitates this desire for self-expression and feeling validated, especially online. As explained in Uses and Gratifications Sought by PreAdolescent and Adolescent TikTok Consumers, “within the pre-adolescent and adolescent age bracket, the most cited motives for producing content was linked to needs of self-expression, social recognition and fame-seeking…” (Christina and Kottasz, 2020). As adolescents continue to navigate the online world, they become more eager to experiment freely with their identity and presentation of the self. In a video uploaded by Matalin Racster, she described the “main character” as having unique qualities that puts you higher on the list of being important and seen (Racster, 2020). This in turn creates the idea that you have to

181 act or dress a certain way in order to attract attention and be considered a “main character.” The video also described how this concept relates to the reason why most people are on TikTok, which is to be noticed by more people (Racster, 2020). What we can then away from adolescents and their behaviours, is this desire to be seen and feel validated by others. Social media and the trends or phrases associated with it, contributes to this notion through the construction of one’s identity which is constantly at play. This concept of the “main character” can in some ways be problematic to adolescents and their mental health, as it perpetuates this habit of comparison. Deciding to share one’s highlights on social media is not an authentic portrayal of one’s actual experiences. Yet this can cause limitations to the way adolescents perceive their own lives and how they express themselves online or in real life. Ultimately, the concept of the “main character” helps us understand the experiences of young people as confusing, experimental, and exciting. Adolescents are at what feels like a very pivotal stage in their lives where they can explore their identity, sexuality, likes, and dislikes; but when the phrase “main character” is thrown in, it can make one feel anxious about not living to their full potential. However, I think the term also speaks to the more fulfilling aspects of the adolescent experience, as they try to navigate what it means to be a “main character” themselves. References Christina, B. B., & Kottasz, R. (2020). Uses and gratifications sought by pre-adolescent and adolescent TikTok consumers. Young Consumers, 21(4), 463-478. https://doi.org/10.1108/YC-07-2020-1186 Racster, M [Matalin Racster]. (2020, June 20). Main Character Syndrome [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HXNS_B_Nag

182 Richardson, C. (2021, June 6). TikTok’s ‘Main Character’ Trend: Self Care or Toxic Narcissism. Brig Newspaper. https://brignews.com/2021/06/06/tiktoks-main-character-trend-self-care-ortoxic-narcissism/

183

Main Character Energy Julian Mulhall Lyrics Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy I have a secret I have a reason Can’t see my deep cuts cause their Dressed up in seasons I have potential They seem to think so I’m in control, The star of my show You won’t see me low, Check my TikTok, I’m on lock Up at one o’clock And I tell myself To romanticize this life so I won’t die Cause I got, Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy I own the sunset I have a diet My world my filters Yeah, I decide it I am the colour I am the summer Look through my window, I’m not just another, Dot in the sea

184 Check my TikTok, I’m on lock Up at one o’clock And I tell myself To romanticize this life so I won’t die No, I got Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy (Piano Solo) Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy Main Character Energy My keyword was “main character energy” – a phrase that has recently gained much popularity on social media. Its meaning refers to the individual writing their own story and being life’s protagonist. A quick google search will get you this simple description:

“For most young people, main character energy is about becoming their best selves. It's about things like building confidence, being more assertive and appreciative, and following through on good things they might not have done before.” – (Kane, 2022)

185

Social media is an especially powerful tool here, as it allows the user to curate their image and control their own story and narrative as it is perceived by their peers and the public. However, my song explores this idea of “main character energy” as it relates to the health of adolescence. Social media can be a motivating instrument for youth, given that it can build confidence and connect them with their peers and the broader world. And yet, its intentionally addictive design can also lead youth toward an over-reliance on it to satisfy their sense of selfworth. Posting life experiences, whether rehearsed, staged, or candid, is constantly being situated within the community in which an unsaid competition for likes and attention fuels the yearning for a more romantic and impressive life. With this song, I argue that falling into this trap can encourage narcissistic behaviour in which one may develop the habit of always seeing themselves as the world’s protagonist. In this state of mind, other people and their experiences only exist to support you on your quest. I believe this behaviour is heavily linked to the drive people develop to make their life appear as colourful as possible for both themselves and others, to avoid the shadows of depression, anxiety, and life’s mundaneness that hang over them. During the verses, I tried to capture the swagger and confidence one feels when they are winning at the game of social media. “I have a secret, I have a reason, can’t see my deep cuts cause their, dressed up in seasons” – refers to the feeling that individuals hold as they go through life - that their life experience holds secrets and a reason that sets them apart from other people, thus giving their story meaning. Contrary feelings of vulnerability and meaninglessness are “dressed up in seasons”, which refers to the TikTok trend of “O.O.T.D” – “outfit of the day”. During the chorus, the music darkens as I attempted to unmask what may often be going on behind the constructed TikTok identity. “Check my Tik-Tok, I’m on lock” refers to the need

186 for people to take notice of our protagonist appearing to be “on lock” –a slang term for achieving perfection. With the lyric, “It is one o'clock, and I tell myself, to romanticize this life so I won’t die” I wanted to capture the severity of this issue. The word “die” can be interpreted as the death of the identity that our protagonist has created for social media consumption. Or it can be interpreted literally. As adolescent suicide rates have reached the highest rates since 2000, growing research has tied the issue of depression among adolescence to the addiction to social media and the struggle to find meaning. Although this research remains somewhat inconclusive. As the song progressed from the 2nd verse, I aimed to make the music increasingly intense and severe, adding obnoxious effects to the vocals to reflect the overflow of digital filters adolescents consistently experience when telling their own stories and consuming the stories of others. My piano solo at the end attempts to reflect the more unfiltered part of our protagonist, who is trying to navigate this world and who is yearning for meaning and genuine connection. The acoustic piano seemed to reflect this well given the debate in the music community over acoustic instruments being less filtered and better suited to the expression of the soul (I don’t necessarily agree with this purist perception, but it fit well with the narrative of the song).

Reference List Kane, Phillip. (2022, June 16). How to Leverage Main Character Energy to Attract and Retain Young Workers: You must understand that Gens Y and Z are the stars in their own life stories. Inc. https://www.inc.com/phillip-kane/draft-how-to-leverage-main-character-energy-to-attract-retainyoungworkers.html#:~:text=For%20most%20young%20people%2C%20main,might%20not%20have% 20done%20before.

187 Chayka, Kyle. (2021, June 23). We All Have “Main-Character Energy” Now: On social media post-pandemic, everyone is ready to become a protagonist. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/we-all-have-main-character-energynow Frazee, Gretchen (2019, June 18). Suicide among teens and young adults reaches highest level since 2000. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/suicide-among-teens-and-young-adultsreaches-highest-level-since2000#:~:text=The%20researchers%20found%20there%20were,12.5%20per%20100%2C000%20 in%202000

Wylde, Kaitlyn. (2021, July 6). Do You Have Main Character Energy Yet? Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/life/what-does-main-character-energy-on-tiktok-mean

188

Neuroblastoma Sinja Novosel Rationale for word chosen: Paediatric cancers have longterm consequences that affect the child from childhood through adolescence to adulthood through the rest of their life.Consequences and ramifications to be discussed in the assignment. Academic Source: This academic article provides further information on neuroblastoma. Zafar A, Wang W, Liu G, Wang X, Xian W, McKeon F, Foster J, Zhou J, Zhang R. Molecular targeting therapies for neuroblastoma: Progress and challenges. Med Res Rev. 2021 Mar;41(2):961-1021. doi: 10.1002/ med.21750. Epub 2020 Nov 6. Erratum in: Med Res Rev. 2022 Jan;42(1):641. PMID: 33155698; PMCID: PMC7906923. Non-Academic Source: This YouTube video with link attached provides a visual context for paediatric brain tumours and their consequences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYeKatolr8k

The focus of this keyword will be on neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a type of paediatric solid brain tumour(Chung et al,2021). It develops in children most commonly before the age of one(London et al, 2005).Although it can develop many years before adolescence is reached, it can also develop in older children into adolescence. However, no matter the age of the child

189 diagnosed with a neuroblastoma, the consequences of the tumour can be lifelong. Therefore, it is an important aspect of development leading to adolescence which must be considered. Note, a complication when considering spread of neuroblastoma is the very wide range of potential malignant growth and/or clinical presentation of symptoms(Maris, 2010).This wide range of tumour growth is a hallmark of the disease, making this type of cancer unique amongst other paediatric cancers. Upon initial diagnosis, neuroblastomas are biopsied to determine the specific stage of tumour growth(stage1 to 4)(Akeret et al,2022).Tumour classification is an important first step in devising appropriate treatment protocols. Note, different treatment protocols result in different longterm complications i.e. chemobrain versus infertility(Alexander et al,2021).These longterm complications can be difficult for adults to deal with when diagnosed with cancer, but how is such a young child able to grasp the enormity of this situation. Parents always want to protect their children from the “boogey man” in the closet, but how can you protect them from the devastating consequences of cancer.Cancer is the one great equalizer, no matter how much you want it to be you undergoing chemo instead of your daughter or son, you cannot take it on. Parents can only do their best to help their child as best as they can in very difficult times. Dealing with such difficult circumstances from such an early age greatly impacts how both the child, their sibling(s) and their parents react after.For many ch ildren they are fighting so hard just to live, let alone thinking about getting to be a teenager. Having gone through such a hellish situation, how would you respond to normal adolescent trials and tribulations such as first loves or the sex talk. However, this is the reality for many parents of children who have undergone childhood cancer. Note, the assumption is that the children have lived long enough to become a teenager which is not always the case. The trauma and grief associated with this case, also affects the siblings of the deceased child, not just through adolescence but throughout the rest of their lives. Just as there are different tumour stages, there are also different treatment protocol options available(Chung et al,2021).Patient outcome has greatly improved with advances in oncology research. Some examples of potential therapies include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell based therapies and many others(Chung et al,2021). Each though comes with its own benefits and consequences, all though have the ultimate goal of saving the child’s life. However, treatment does not always mean that the child will survive to adolescence. It is simply a hope for a better future. Once diagnosed with cancer, there is always the risk for relapse(Tolbert & Matthew,2018).The fear of relapse will haunt both the cancer survivor and their family for the rest of their lives. This fear will continue onto into adolescence. This spectre will always be present and will forever impact how they see themselves and develop and grow. Reference List: Akeret, K., Vasella, F., Staartjes, V. E., Velz, J., Müller, T., Neidert, M. C., Weller, M., Regli, L., Serra, C., & Krayenbühl, N. (2022). Anatomical phenotyping and staging of brain tumours. Brain : a journal of neurology, 145(3), 1162–1176. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab352

190 Alexander, J. F., Seua, A. V., Arroyo, L. D., Ray, P. R., Wangzhou, A., Heiβ- Lückemann, L., Schedlowski, M., Price, T. J., Kavelaars, A., & Heijnen, C. J. (2021). Nasal administration of mitochondria reverses chemotherapy- induced cognitive deficits. Theranostics, 11(7), 3109– 3130. https://doi.org/ 10.7150/thno.53474 Chung C, Boterberg T, Lucas J, Panoff J, Valteau-Couanet D, Hero B, Bagatell R, Hill-Kayser CE. Neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021 May;68 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):e28473. doi: 10.1002/pbc.28473. PMID: 33818884; PMCID: PMC8785544. London WB, Castleberry RP, Matthay KK, et al. Evidence for an age cutoff greater than 365 days for neuroblastoma risk group stratification in the Children’s Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:6459–65. Maris JM. Recent advances in neuroblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2010 Jun 10;362(23):2202-11. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra0804577. PMID: 20558371; PMCID: PMC3306838. Tolbert VP, Matthay KK. Neuroblastoma: clinical and biological approach to risk stratification and treatment. Cell Tissue Res. 2018 May; 372(2): 195-209. doi: 10.1007/s00441-018-2821-2. Epub 2018 Mar 23. PMID: 29572647; PMCID: PMC5918153.

191

N***a Jaedyn Charles Nigga nig·ga [nig-uh] noun Slang A term of endearment or slur? Derogatory or familial? These are the questions this term has been shrouded in since its increasing popularity within pop culture and mainstream society since the 1980s. Context and history surround this word in a slurry of controversial discourse, with meaning changing depending on the individual and space. 'Nigga' can be heard over various songs, with artists referring to individuals in both positive and negative connotations. Over social media, the word is linked to different meanings within African American Vernacular(AAVE), being utilized as both noun and general expressions based on the tone and emphasis of specific points of the word. In its origin, the term derived from the Latin word Niger, meaning black. Niger was twisted and reformed into Nigger at some point through the Atlantic Slave trade, first appearing in the 17th century in a port of what would become Virginia (The Washington Post, 2015). European slavers often brandished the new variation and hurdled the term at enslaved people to dehumanize them and further strip them of their identity. Many were unable to understand what cause people would have to want to reappropriate the term for their own as it began to appear in its current form in tv and comedy specials in the 80s and 90s. Hip-hop and Rap pushed 'Nigga' into the mainstream as Black artists began to showcase how the word was being utilized as a term of familiarity and endearment. The goal was to reappropriate the word to lessen the fear and hate felt when it was spewed at African Americans by those who wished to insult and disparage them. Music groups like N.W.A saw the word as a way to push their message forward and get the attention of the masses, while current artists like Kendrick Lamar see the term as a sign of power to an alternate origin of the word (Lamar, 2015). While it has been over 40 years since the induction of 'Nigga' into pop culture and slang, it remains vital to understanding adolescence as it is indefinitely ingrained into most aspects of their lives. Once secluded to the sphere of hip-hop and rap, the word has become mainstream with social media and the explosion of hip-hop within pop culture extended to individuals of varying backgrounds and ethnicities. For adolescents today, the term 'Nigga' is normalized and, depending on their algorithm, may pop up in every other post on their Instagram or TikTok feed.

192 Understanding this word and words like it can aid us in grappling with how adolescents form and shape their identities. Furthermore, how they understand their relationships with their friends and peers. For Black adolescents understanding this word allows us to comprehend their view of hate speech and how it can affect them. In addition, dive into the meaning and weight they put into words compared to adolescents in the 80s and 90s when the term became common. Seeing the evolution of 'Nigga' in a new generation may finally cement a meaning for it, hopefully not erasing its history. References for Further discussion: Lamar, K. (2015). i. On To Pimp a Butterfly. Rahki. Smith, H. L. (2019, November). Has nigga Been Reappropriated as a Term of Endearment?: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis. American Speech: A Quarterly of Linguistic Usage, 94(4), 420-477. doi:https://doi.org/10.1215/00031283-7706537 The Washington Post. (2015, January 9). The n-word through history. Retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/9Yv2BnfbUFs

193

Noob Summer Hawamdeh When studying adolescents and their health, it is essential to study words that are frequently used by adolescents themselves. “Noob” is a word commonly used by adolescents to describe and often tease people who are inexperienced at a particular activity or are trying something for the first time. Although the exact origin of the word is contested, it is believed to have originated from other variants, particularly “newie,” a word first used in the 1830s in the United States and Australia to describe someone or something new (Stevenson & Waite, 2011). It is also believed that it may have originated from the term “new boy,” used to describe British schoolboys starting their first term in school (Hill, 2015). The term “noobs” was popularized in the mid-2000s when gaming became popular and has been since used by adolescents, often to poke fun at people who lack experience in a particular area (Hill, 2015). Despite adolescence being a time of new experiences, the use of this word by adolescents reflects the internalized fear they hold of being labelled a noob. During these critical years, adolescents experience many changes and many firsts. Adolescents have new bodies, new desires, and try new activities. During this time, adolescents usually learn to drive for the first time, have their first romantic love, have their first break up, and have their first job, among other things. Adolescents are new to the “adult” world and this word encompasses their new experiences. As a result of societal pressures that push unrealistic expectations onto adolescents, adolescents feel as though they must grow up quickly. Furthermore, social norms favour experts over learners. Thus, adolescents have a yearning desire to be experts despite being noobs in many different ways. To navigate this paradox, the term “noob” is often used by adolescents to jokingly insult other young people's lack of competence as a way of making themselves feel better. Calling others noobs suggests that they themselves are experienced; making them seem closer in proximity to adulthood. This word relates to youth’s health and well-being because it can be used to explain the internalized struggle that youth experience when attempting to grapple with being novice independent beings. Adolescents fear that if they are inexperienced, they will not belong. This fear is the outcome of the media and cultural norms which perpetuate a false narrative of what teenagers should be like. This can harm the mental health of youth because they avoid being themselves by pretending they are experienced. Adolescents may also force themselves to prematurely try new things that they are not comfortable with in order to fit in. Adolescents should not feel the need to prove to others that they are experienced; this has the potential to negatively impact their growth and mental health. Alongside a cultural shift in depicting what adolescence looks like, adolescents should reclaim being a noob and learn to accept that being a noob, is indeed cool. Academic source: Article: A Cultural History of Noobs https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/12/acultural-history-of-noobs/509666/

194 Non-academic source: Song: Don’t Call Me a Noob Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_quu68XXHEs&ab_channel=KawaiiKunicorn Though this song may seem strange, it demonstrates the significant impact of the word noob within adolescent culture. References Hill, S. (2015, March 21). Don't be a noob, find out what the word really means. Digital Trends. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/noob-newbie-wordorigins/ Stevenson, A., & Waite, M. (2011). Concise oxford english dictionary. Oxford University Press.

195

Nomophobia Asifa Malik The key word that describes the study of adolescence and health is nomophobia. According to dictionary.com, nomophobia is “the fear of being without a mobile phone or without access to a mobile phone” (Dictionary, 2018). The history of nomophobia dates to 2008 in the United Kingdom post office study, in which the United Kingdom research agency called “YouGov” began to study the anxiety mobile users face when they do not use their phone (2018). Nomophobia can help those who study adolescence and health to understand the experiences of young people. Majority of adolescents within the Western society have access to a mobile phone, such as an iPhone or Samsung. Within that group of mobile phone users, many teenagers are perceived as addicted to using their phone. If their phone lights up, they must check it immediately; if their phone rings, they must answer it instantly; if they get a notification, they must respond to it promptly. Essentially, several teenagers are dependent on their mobile phone, because most of their livelihood is composed within this tiny device. Many teenagers can now do their school work on their phone, because the majority of school material is online; many teenagers text and call their friends and family on their phone and use technology as a means to mainly communicate with them; many teenagers use their phone to use social media throughout the day, such as Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Snapchat to be aware of the latest trends. Overall, most adolescents constantly use their phones to express their individuality, for their phone contains most of the information about everyone that truly defines them. Thus, adolescents may fear missing out on their personal life if they are not actively using their phone. Ultimately, it is important to study the term nomophobia because it allows us to understand the developmental psychology of adolescents. Since most teenagers depend on their

196 phone to express themselves, it allows one to understand that they ultimately use their phone to gain a sense of self-worth. As a result, adolescents may be dependent on their phone, because they feel as though it truly conveys their identity in ways that nothing else can. Hence, one of the reasons why adolescents are constantly using their phone is because they feel as though the tiny piece of metal is their own security blanket. As a result, if teenagers do not use their device for a long period of time, they may experience negative emotions, such as anxiety or even depression. In addition, another reason why nomophobia is prevalent within adolescents is due to the fear of being rejected. Within the adolescent community, it is extremely popular to own the latest iPhone. A recent survey conducted by Piper Sandler observed that approximately 87 percent of teenagers surveyed own an iPhone, and 88 percent of teenagers expect an iPhone to be their next phone (AppleInsider, 2022). Thus, many teenagers own an iPhone to be accepted by their peers. The fear of being alienated by the adolescent community is a common fear that teenagers constantly face, and so it could be possible that teenagers consistently use their phone as a defence mechanism to not be shamed by their peers. Perhaps, this notion of conforming to the adolescent community relates to the idea of projection; teenagers who see other teenagers using the latest iPhone may view them as someone who is worth associating with as opposed to a teenager who does not own a phone or an iPhone. As a result, there may be instances where teenagers become friends with others for the initial reason that they have the latest phone and have projected the idea that their new friend is a good friend because they own something they wish to acquire. Overall, it is important to study the term nomophobia because it allows those who are interested in studying adolescence and health to understand several reasons as to why adolescents are the way they are. To have a more detailed understanding of nomophobia that

197 addresses the symptoms, effects, and evidence of research, one can read the article by the National Library of Medicine called “NOMOPHOBIA: NO MObile PHone PhoBIA.” However, if one wants to learn about nomophobia in a simpler and concise manner that is engaging, then one can watch the comedic youtube video called “Nomophobia Every Day (Apple iPhone TV Ad Parody).” Reference list Bhattacharya, S., Bashar, M. A., Srivastava, A., & Singh, A. (2019). NOMOPHOBIA: NO MObile PHone PhoBIA. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 8(4), 1297–1300. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_71_19 N.A. (2018). Nomophobia. Dictionary.com. https://doi.org/https://www.dictionary.com/e/tech-science/nomophobia/ The Safehouse Project. (2013, September 25). Nomophobia Every Day (Apple iPhone TV Ad Parody) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_dOA8UbRho William, G. (2022). Gen Z survey says 87% of US teenagers own an iPhone. AppleInsider. https://doi.org/https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/01/06/gen-z-survey-says-87-of-us-t Eenagers-own-an-iphone

198

Nonbinary Megan Pakulis Adolescence is a time of self-discovery, part of which includes discovering gender identity. Western society traditionally identifies gender as a binary system that is one of two categories, man or woman, but a third category has recently been brought to light: non-binary. Non-binary is a term used for those who feel they do not neatly fit into the usual gender binaries. It is used as an opportunity to provide an identity for someone who does not simply identify as a man or a woman. Non-binary can be used for someone who feels genderless, someone whose identity fluctuates between genders, or someone who relates to a third gender that is neither man nor woman. Despite non-binary being a relatively new term in western society, many other cultures have been using their own terms to describe people who fall outside of the gender binary. Indigenous communities use Two-Spirit to describe those that exist beyond male or female, māhū is used in Hawaii, and sekrata in Madagascar (Fabiani, 2021). The use of these terms in other cultures shows the long history of non-binary people despite the term only being coined in the 1990s. Unfortunately, despite the long history of non-binary individuals, their acceptance and inclusion into society has been limited. People who identify as non-binary are more likely to be discriminated against, be excluded from gender-separated spaces such as homeless shelters, and even experience limited accessibility within medical services. Understanding what non-binary means, the history surrounding it, and the limitations presented to non-binary people allows us to best support their needs. As adolescences experience puberty and changes within themselves, they may start begin to find challenges in identifying as either a man or a woman. This lack of secure identity can pose as a threat to their well-being and can initiate feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, anxiety,

199 and depression. Having a term that helps describe their gender identity can limit these feelings and instead promote a sense of validation for who they are. It is important to understand how to best support individuals who may be feeling this way and ensure they feel accepted and included. As an educator, there are ways we can support adolescence through their gender discovery. Nonbinary acceptance starts with awareness of the language we use. In classrooms, it is important to use gender neutral language when addressing groups of people, and asking for pronouns to ensure we are communicating using individual’s preferred pronouns. Implementing these little changes with adolescences can help open the conversation around non-binary people to show them it is okay to not relate to the gender binary. Adolescences are going through many physical, mental, and sexual changes while trying to answer the most difficult question of them all: “who am I?”. Having terms that stray away from the “traditional” expectations of what an adolescent is supposed to be allows the opportunity for them to best discover who they are. Finding the answer to “who am I?” may never truly happen, but having support to identify ones true self can help make the journey to the answer that much easier. Sources: Academic - https://lgbt.foundation/who-we-help/trans-people/non-binary Non-academic – Transceptance Support Group: https://ctys.org/program/groups/transceptance/ References: Fabiani, A. (2021). 10 cultures that have accepted non-binary gender identities for centuries. Screenshot. https://screenshot-media.com/politics/lgbtqi-rights/non-binary-cultures/

200

Obesity Mawliga Nagabaskaran An important keyword that is central to the study of adolescence and health is obesity. Obesity is important in regards to how it takes a toll on an adolescent’s life physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is a medical condition and can also be referred to as a disease as it occurs when an individual has an abnormal or excessive amount of body fat to the point where it has a negative effect on their health. Being obese during the Middle Ages and the 17th century was often seen as something to be proud of as it indicated power and prosperity in a time where many people did not have access to food and there was a shortage in many places. There was a large increase in obesity rates mostly in the last decade and this was due to many reasons, including the promotion of foods high in fat and processed sugars. Many of the individuals that are affected by obesity are adolescents and it truly affects their growth and well being. Obesity helps us understand the experiences of young people as it affects their daily lifestyle in various ways. An individual can struggle with obesity starting at the age of 5 and it can go on through adolescence until adulthood. This helps us understand the experiences of these young people as many individuals become depressed, struggle with anxiety and a low self esteem, as well as are discriminated against, resulting in strained relationships with those around them. They begin to have many negative experiences with themselves and their peers and they begin to lose their support systems at a time of need. In regards to their health, they slowly start to deteriorate as it can affect their whole body from their reproductive system to their respiratory system as well as daily aspects such as mood and memory. During a young person’s adolescence stage they are already going through many changes and when obesity is added to the mix these changes and effects are amplified as it changes the way they think and act. Emotionally and mentally, an adolescent's well being is also being affected as they are at a higher risk for emotional problems. They become less popular with their peers leading to them being isolated and not comfortable in their own skin. This is when people like teachers can be a source of support for these young people as they are still going through many changes and need guidance and assistance. We should not try to change who they are but be there to help find their own strengths in order to build themselves in every way possible. This is especially an important time to be their aid as many individuals who are obese as adolescents will continue to be obese as an adult. Encouraging their interests, being a role model of healthy choices, and being there for support will definitely make an impact for the better with these young individuals. https://www.scielo.br/j/rsp/a/74Rd4HCX7cxL7vv6p3B779R/?format=pdf&lang=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQkuVVqx7ds

201

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Yingjun Li The keyword I choose to talk about is OCD-Obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is a mental illness with a pattern of unwanted intrusive thoughts, fears, or sensations that can cause anxiety and use repetitive, compulsive behaviours to help reduce anxiety. Common obsession examples include fear of germs, dirt, and containments, worrying that they are going to die, worrying that loved ones would get sick or have an accident, and obsession with placing objects in a specific order. Common examples of Compulsive behaviors include excessive washing of hands and cleaning, and having to place certain things in a strict order, having to do something over and over until it feels “just right”. People can develop OCD due to genetic reasons, environmental exposures, and stressful events. History of OCD Obsessive-compulsive disorder has a very long history, but here I will highlight a few important evolvements. According to OCD UK (n.d.), the historical record of the term OCD can be traced back to the fourteen century. At that time, what we call OCD now was called “scrupulosity”. Scrupulosity was used to describe obsessive fears in religious contexts. The modern conceptualization of the term OCD started in the nineteen century. In the early twenty century, Sigmund Freud came up with the term “Zwangsneurose” to describe the obsession he observed in his patients, which was the original name of OCD. Later, the term was translated as “compulsion” in the UK and then as “obsession” in the US. Eventually, to compromise between the two translations, the diagnosis came to be called “Obsessive-compulsive”, which is the OCD we call today. OCD and Adolescents

202 Mental health problems can cause severe negative impacts on adolescents. Obsessivecompulsive disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses among teenagers. It can occur early in life and most commonly appears in adolescents and adults. Students with OCD face more challenges than others. For instance, OCD can affect students’ performance at school. Students with OCD might have trouble focusing during class if they constantly worry about other things in their heads. Students might also spend excessive time doing their homework with much erasing and rewriting. In addition, OCD increases risk-taking behaviors that affect adolescents’ health and well-being. Adolescents who struggle to cope with OCD might turn to substance misuses, such as excessive drinking and drug use. Students with OCD may experience bullying at school as well due to their peers’ lack of understanding about the illness. OCD can also increase the risk of suicide. As teachers, we need to be more patient and encouraging in supporting our students with OCD. We must recognize the signs of OCD. If we think a student is developing OCD behaviors, we need to act immediately to help the student, such as guiding the student to seek professional help and receive treatment. We are also responsible for promoting awareness of OCD at school to reduce the harm of OCD to our students. List of two sources: Academic source: Krebs, G., & Heyman, I. (2014). Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 100(5), 495–499. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2014-306934 Non-academic source: McLeanHospital. (2020, September 10). Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale on Navigating the Challenges of OCD. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAuvsfey9c8 Reference OCD UK. (n.d.). The history of OCD. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.ocduk.org/ocd/history-of-ocd/

203

Photo Dump Zainab Javid The term photo dump describes a random collection or “carousel” of images posted on Instagram that are low-effort and not highly edited. The photo dump trend became popular amongst Instagram users in the summer of 2020, as it essentially started as a casual Instagram carousel of an individual’s week, month, or day. Additionally, some users post photo dumps of their favourite items or simply random photos from their camera roll. Photo dumps allow users to move away from the highly edited, filtered photos to low-effort, unfiltered photos straight from the camera roll. The pandemic played a huge role in the emergence of the photo dump trend. As everyone’s lives slowed down, we started taking photos of our mundane, everyday activities. I believe that when photo dumps first became a trend, it helped alleviate the pressure, especially for young adolescent girls, to not have to look highly edited and airbrushed in the photos they post. Many content creators that these adolescents look up to such as Emma Chamberlain, Alisha Marie, Matilda Djerf, Mai Pham, and many more started posting photo dumps that consist of more casual, ordinary photos. These are just a few examples of people who started to post more “authentic” content about their own lives through photo dumps which helped them appear more “real” to their young audiences. Due to this, it became more socially acceptable to post unedited photos on your Instagram feed. With that being said, I find that this push towards being more casual on Instagram has now inadvertently created a new set of standards for fitting in, which impacts adolescents mental health. Through photo dumps, it has become “cool” to appear as though you are not trying hard. This trend leads people wanting to portray themselves online as effortlessly careless. Furthermore, photo dumps have become a way for adolescents to carefully curate their self-presentation on social media through impression management. This comes from the need for acceptance from others through the strategic presentation of the self. Rather than spending hours editing one photo to look perfect for an Instagram feed, people are now spending that same amount of time carefully selecting photos from their camera roll that they feel are aesthetically pleasing enough to post in a photo dump. Adolescents are posting photo dumps that represent a version of themselves that they may subconsciously be seeking approval from. In addition, though these photos are not highly filtered, they are still edited in a way that makes them look unfiltered to fit with the nonchalant aesthetic. Referring back to the content creators mentioned above, when adolescents see these effortlessly cool Instagram feeds, with seemingly unedited photos getting a significantly positive response, it is inevitable for that to influence their own ideas of self-presentation on social media. This photo dump trend has become just another way for adolescents to put the highlight reel of their lives on display. Creators such as Emma Chamberlain, who is a huge influence for adolescents, has talked about her frustrations with Instagram and the hold that it can have over one’s identity as it has become highly curated extensions of our personalities disguised as our authentic selves. With this, I believe that casual Instagram and appearing effortless has become just as toxic as posed Instagram, where under the guise of honesty and authenticity is still this high degree of curation and conformity. Non-academic source: Chamberlain, Emma, host. “The Instagram Illusion.” Anything Goes. Ramble. 9 April 2021. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-instagram-illusion/id1458568923?i=1000519259921 Academic source:

204 Herring, Susan C., and Sanja Kapidzic. "Teens, gender, and self-presentation in social media." International encyclopedia of social and behavioral sciences 2 (2015): 1-16. Additional sources: https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/09/is-it-time-to-ditch-the-photo-dump/ https://thebutlercollegian.com/2022/08/time-to-bereal-the-impact-of-photo-dumps-casualinstagram-and-bereal/

205

Pick-Me Girl Karolina Solovka The term Pick-me girl has been flooding the TikTok trends and videos since the beginning of the social media platform became more popular in 2021. The term was first launched on Twitter after the hashtag #Tweetlikeapickme started trending after male users saw women were pridefully taking a domestic role and wanted to monk them. It is used to describe girls who are different from the societal norm of women through their interests and persona. According to Urban Dictionary, a pick-me girl is one “who seeks male validation… lets men walk all over her because of her “CaReFrEE” demeanor, only hangs out with men because they’re “unproblematic”, exerts qualities/characteristics of her male counterparts that were not initially present to be more likable and relatable to them, etc.” (Urban Dictionary) It is described that these types of girls are different from others through their love for activities such as playing sports, drinking beer, fishing, and more, all of which are considered predominantly male activities by society. Unlike other girls who do activities such as shopping and wearing makeup, they are considered the more ‘girly” interests. Pick-me girls feel they stand out in the crowd by participating in more masculine hobbies to gain more attention. While the term is seen mainly with the female gender attached to the end, other genders are associated with the word, just not as frequently. Overall, the pick-me person is just someone who behaves a sure way to get chosen by someone over someone else through being unique from society and doing anything they can to show that off. The pick-me-girl is influential in understanding adolescence and health as it gives adults an understanding of social media terms and what slang is used amongst them. It also showcases how the term affects young girls as they develop their identity, as there are male-identifying folks who look at pick-me girls negatively. They use the term to make fun of girls’ interests and

206 believe that this is all a show for validation instead of allowing girls to explore the interest they want to. Young girls are taught to appeal to the male gaze and that being different from others is terrible. This leads to the phrase containing attributes of misogyny as it brings women down instead of supporting one another. By calling girls “pick-me,” the adolescents exploring themselves will feel guilty and ashamed of who they are, which can lead them never to discover who they want to be. This can lead to the downfall of their mental health and well-being and cause further issues within the child. The years of adolescents are crucial as this is the time they are discovering themselves. If society is holding them back from doing that through words, they will never get to be themselves. As an educator, understanding this word will help me to work on providing a space in my classroom where young girls or those who feel that they are “different” feel comfortable exploring their identity. It will also allow me to address the issues behind such words in hopes of teaching not only young girls but all genders too why words as such could be harmful and why we should be praising unique identities instead of everyone being the same. Two great sources listed below would be great to look at to learn further about the word and its effects on society would be the Urban Dictionary. On this website, all modern slang is put on with explanations and examples. As well as The Berkeley Beacons article, “The phrase ‘pick me’ has added fuel to the fire that is internalized misogyny.” This dives into the word's harm to young girls and how impactful the term could be. Sources to learn further about the word:

Academic:

207 Waldeck, Sabine. “The Phrase 'Pick Me' Has Added Fuel to the Fire That Is Internalized Misogyny.” The Berkeley Beacon, 20 Oct. 2021, https://berkeleybeacon.com/the-phrase-pickme-has-added-fuel-to-the-fire-that-is-internalizedmisogyny/#:~:text=For%20those%20who%20don%27t,re%20%27not%20like%20other%20girl s. Non-Academic: “Pick-Me Girl.” Urban Dictionary, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pick-me+girl.

208

Piercings Grant Cooke Piercings are an artistic way to express yourself through your body. Piercing involves creating a hole and inserting something decorative or valuable. “Even though it may feel painful, skin piercing has been a common technique for thousands of years to insert an ornamental item made of metal, bone, shell, ivory, or glass. Body piercing is done on men, women, and kids all throughout the world. It has gained popularity, especially among American youths who pierce practically everything.” (Penn Museum, 2018). Body piercings have been found on mummified human remains over 5,000 years old. We know that piercings held cultural value even for early humankind, today we continue to see the importance of piercings especially in adolescence. Adolescents are drawn to the idea of piercings because they often want to look like their peers, and they believe that piercings may help demonstrate their affiliation. Adolescents want to belong to or be associated with a specific group and have the approval of the group. Piercings can make a bold statement or add a subtle touch of beauty. In any case, having a visible piercing makes a statement of some kind. Piercings may help teens tell their own stories. Body decoration can assist teens in creating a personal narrative and is an excellent way to express themselves. An emo boy, for example, might prefer a black cheek stud and a black eyebrow ring. Or the popular blonde girl who gets a gold nose ring to emulate their favourite influencer, because she herself aspires to be one. For teens its especially important to project a certain look, piercings can alter the way they appear to help them fit in. Teens get piercings to enhance their sexuality and attractiveness to others. Young people are constantly exploring their sexuality as they mature. As older teens and young adults, piercing is frequently viewed as a way to increase their attractiveness to potential partners. Piercings can also increase a teen's personal sexual desire and feelings and can increase physical pleasure. Young people are often in a constant state of experimentation, trying to figure out who they want to be. This may be why teens are so attracted to the idea of piercings. Piercings can also be viewed as a form of rebellion and is often a bone of contention between parents and teens. In many cultures piercings signify important maturity related rites of passage. In Canada there is no age of consent for piercings but often piercing professionals will not perform piercings on youth under the age of 16 without parental consent. The informal imposed age restrictions on piercings for young people makes getting a piercing a rite of passage. For many young people a piercing is their first opportunity to modify their appearance and make a statement of their own. Looking at the act of piercings in the study of adolescents and health is important because for many youths piercing is deeply connected to creating an identity and establishing belonging within a social group or subculture. In both cases, a strong sense of one’s identity and belonging are vital to the development of good mental health and further growth and development as a person.

209

Sources: 1. Penn Museum (2009) Bodies of Cultures, Piercing, A World Tour of Body Modificationhttps://www.penn.museum/sites/body_modification/bodmodpierce.shtml 2. IvyPanda. (2021, August 21). Body Piercing in Different Cultures. https://ivypanda.com/essays/body-piercing-in-different-cultures/ 3. Definery 29 (2021, October 20). Getting My 20th Piercing, A Daith Piercing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlGxC0bzHHc

210

The Pill Emily Zakoor “The pill” can have so many different meanings, some positive, others extremely negative, all depending on the specific circumstance the term is presented in. The psychological effects of birth control are still widely variable and unknown, making it a frightening and even dangerous drug for patients on “the pill”, especially if they are under the age of 19. Over centuries, thousands of drugs have been developed, but only one has earned the title of just “the pill” due to its immense influence on society since its introduction in May 1950 (Liao & Dollin, 2012). The origin story of “the pill”, is quite a happy story. The story starts with providing women with the freedom and reproductive autonomy they always deserved (Rothman, 2017). The pill encouraged the rise of women in the workforce and allowed women to pursue their careers, uninterrupted, until they decided, when and if, they wanted to start a family (Rothman, 2017). As a Gen Z, the benefits and effects of “the pill” were widely known and discussed in my secondary school. Many students in my school were on the pill, but for a number of reasons. Whether it was to control acne and breakouts, to regulate your period and know when your period was actually going to start and end, to prevent pregnancy in case you made a mistake, or for other health-related reasons, birth control was seen positively as a helpful medication to my peers and I. Rapid mood changes, depression, feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and anxiety. These are just some of the negative side effects reported by patients on the pill. On the podcast SHE with Jordan Dee Dooley, Dr. Jolene Brighten discusses the struggles women experiencing negative side effects from the pill go through just to be heard by their physicians. Dr. Brighten says “Be a troublemaker and advocate for your body, I don't care if your doctor calls you a troublemaker, it's your life” (Brighten, 2021). There is a social stigma surrounding depression and the pill, and whether or not the medication is truly connected to depression and negative mood changes.

Much controversy ensued following the release of a study conducted on 1 million women in Denmark in 2017, which showed that the use of oral contraceptives increased a woman’s rate of taking antidepressants by 23% (Skovlund et al., 2016). That is highly significant, considering

211 many doctors’ unwillingness to prescribe alternatives to their patients when they come to them with complaints of depression on the pill. In Canada, 15-19 is the highest-using age group for oral contraceptives (Government of Canada, 2015). According to Statistics Canada, a study conducted between 2007-11 found that a staggering 30% of 15 to 19-year-olds use some form of oral contraceptive (Government of Canada, 2015). This reinforces the known fact that “the pill” is so commonly used by our adolescent population, so much so that we need to be aware of the negative, and in some cases, dangerous effects that can result from the use of this medication. What may start out as a preventative and responsible choice may lead to potentially severe mood and thought changes that a young adolescent may not even be aware of themself. Some Helpful Resources: Can Hormonal Birth Control Trigger Depression? | Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-hormonal-birth-control-trigger-depression-2016101725 17 How Birth Control Made Me Four Different People | NYT Op-Docs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW0brheXOPo

References Brighten, Dr. J. (2021). SHE: The Truth About Birth Control and Your Hormones (Ft. Dr. Jolene Brighten) (J. Lee Dooley, Interviewer) [Interview]. In Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-about-birth-control-your-hormones-ft-dr-jolen e/id1439101884?i=1000518013055 Government of Canada, S. C. (2015, October 21). Oral contraceptive use among women aged 15 to 49: Results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey. Www150.Statcan.gc.ca. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2015010/article/14222-eng.htm Liao, P. V., & Dollin, J. (2012). Half a century of the oral contraceptive pill. Canadian Family Physician, 58(12), e757–e760. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3520685/#:~:text=Introduced%20in%20 May%201950%2C%20the Rothman, L. (2017, April 3). 50 Years Ago This Week: How Birth Control Changed Everything. Time; Time. https://time.com/4713875/1967-birth-control-pill/ Skovlund, C. W., Mørch, L. S., Kessing, L. V., & Lidegaard, Ø. (2016). Association of Hormonal Contraception With Depression. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(11), 1154. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2387

212

Pog Jeanine Dinh The term, “Pog”, is used to indicate excitement, joy, intrigue or an epic moment in online spaces. Pog is an acronym that means “play of the game” but is mainly used by users in the video game space as an expression after something incredible, epic, or exciting has taken place. POGGERS can be used synonymously with POG. Used mainly within the video game live streaming community it can be found in the chat section to express excitement, amazement, or disbelief when a live streamer pulls off an impressive play or a talented skill. When someone says "Pog" after accomplishing something it usually means "Yay! I did it! Epic!". “Pog” is one of the oldest emotive terms and popularised by the users of the Twitch community. The term is inspired by and a reference to the Twitch emote "PogChamp". The original PogChamp emote is a photo of Ryan “Gootecks” and was created from an image of Ryan while he was on a film set. He watched a camera man knock over a tripod and this was his natural expression. Ryan was shocked, mouth agape, with a surprised expression across his face. The photo was taken and turned into an emote which became incredibly popular amongst the video game community. This term is important as it reflects ways in which adolescents represent themselves online or create their own representation online. There are opportunities online for adolescents to cohort or find groups of people with similar interests. Within these groups they create their own culture, habits and understandings of said space. “Pog” is one of the oldest emotive terms that users in the video game space use and created. Similarly to memes, it gives adolescents a way to express themselves and also connect to one another. Providing a sense of sameness, understanding and connection between users in the space. The creation of “pog” displays how youth find ways to accurately express themselves in a virtual space. This connects to youth’s health and well-being by trying to authentically connect to their virtual spaces and virtual community members. By being able to appropriately express their emotion or reaction they are able to share the space with others. This is extremely important in the live streaming space (where this term is typically used). For example, during live esports events, there can sometimes be thousands up to millions of people watching virtually from their own space. When an impressive play happens or a specific team wins, youth are able to share the same excitement by flooding the chat with “pog” or “poggers” or “pogchamp” emotes. Sources Literally Media Ltd. (2022, October 19). Pogchamp. Know Your Meme. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/pogchamp

theScore Esports. (2017, May 26). What is PogChamp? [A trip down meme-Ory Lane]. YouTube. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcY7AyFojok

213

Puragatory Evangelos Arnokouros The innocence of childhood has fully expired by high school; however, adulthood is far beyond reach. The word purgatory aptly describes the experience of high school from the mind of a high school student. According to Britannica, purgatory is defined as: “the condition, process, or place of purification or temporary punishment in which [...] the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for heaven” (Zaleski, 2022). Similar to the bridge between the living and the dead, high school acts as the bridge between adolescence and adulthood. Furthermore, Britannica goes on to list three components of purgatory: “Prayer for the dead, an active interim state between death and resurrection, and a purifying fire after death” (Zaleski, 2022). These components relate to the high school experience in the following ways: firstly, high school is a place to pray for the death of one’s childhood. High school students recall the nurture they felt in their youth and mourn the loss of renewing those experiences. Secondly, they remain in an active state between childhood and adulthood, similar to Britannica's idea of living between life and death, awaiting heaven. Lastly, purgatory is a place to purify one’s soul through fire in order to be prepare for heaven, similar to how high school is a place in which adolescents anticipate adulthood. Crucial to our development, human beings need a source of containment. According to Waddell, containment is carried out by a mother or teacher towards someone else in order to help them “make sense” of their experience (Waddell, 2002, p.37). These vessels of containment listen and become present by way of containing the range of emotion that an adolescent is feeling. The chaotic emotions that one feels in high school may be an external reaction to an internal problem that the youth may not know exists. Thus, high school teachers attune

214 themselves to their students through containment and prepare them for the world after high school. Containment can be viewed as a means in which something is kept within a limit, in the same way purgatory has its limits; a soul stuck in limbo that cannot move forward from one place to the next, limited to only roam the lands between. The psychic and physical toll of growing up is contained within high school - be that via a teacher or a peer. High school students will endure hardships and attempt to make sense of the world around them. Thus, this is a process that is needed in order to transition into adulthood, akin to a soul having to purify themselves in purgatory in order to reach heaven. High school is therefore a place where adolescents are preparing for the world outside of an academic context – a world filled with joy and love but also pain and hardship. In other words, the high school students mourn the rose-coloured memories of their youth while anxiously awaiting adulthood. All in all, the idea of being in-between stages is ever present within high school, and the word purgatory appropriately describes the experience.

References Waddell, M. (2002). Inside Lives: Psychoanalysis and the Growth of the Personality (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429475979 Zaleski, C. (2022, August 30). Purgatory. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/purgatory-Roman-Catholicism

215

Purple Drank Arthur Ditner Keyword: Purple Drank Submission: Meme collection Description: A collection of meme-culture related images and assets associated with Purple Drank. Seeing images such as the ones provided on clothing, hats, backpacks, stickers on laptops, etc, could be a red-flag of adolescent codeine abuse. Origin: Purple Drank refers to recreational abuse of Benadryl and other over-the-counter cough syrups. The term also carries a connection to a subgenre of hip-hop, internet meme culture, remix culture, lifestyle, and used as a general slang term. Purple Drank is shorthand for consuming intoxicating amounts of cough syrup. The active ingredients creating a “high” include promethazine, codeine, and/or dextromethorphan. Not all cough syrups have codeine as an active ingredient but other varieties produce similar effects. Other terms for this street drug include: lean, dex, dxm, syrup, sizzurp, and drank. When consumed in excessive amounts, users are exposed to a powerful dissociative drug that can produce hallucinations. Purple Drank produces highs that have been compared to ecstasy and ketamine. Side effects include excessive pupil dilation, sweating, high blood pressure, slow breathing, and seizures. It is possible to overdose and require medical intervention when on this drug. Since the active ingredients can be purchased within over-the-counter medication, teenagers in particular are susceptible to abuse. The drug is disproportionately popular amongst visible minorities and LGBT communities (Addictive Behaviors, 2448). Purple Drank is often diluted with Sprite and is often mixed with Jolly Ranchers for additional flavour.

216 Celebrity culture: Purple Drank has been name checked for street cred by a number of celebrities including: Lil Wanye (rap), Justin Bieber (pop), and Korn (metal), however it is most closely associated with southern hip-hop culture. Over the last decade a number of high profile NFL players have been caught in possession of codeine paraphernalia including Purple Drank. Music culture: A genre of music Chopped and Screwed is said to be directly influenced by codeine culture. Some features of this genre include a general tempo of 70bpm (compared to hiphop resting at 90bpm or higher), excessive use of reverb and/or delay, and pitch shifted vocals. A breakout hit single from this subculture was aptly named “Sippin’ on Some Syrup”. This aesthetic has evolved into yet another subgenre that is currently popular: vaporwave. Internet Culture (See diagram on next page): For the last decade, Purple Drank has been a consistently popular internet search term. While overall interest has weaned over time, the longevity of the interest demonstrates that it is not a passing fad. It is interesting to mention that the United States searched for “purple drank” the most ten years ago, in the United Kingdom the same term was more popular five years ago, and the term is currently surging in Canada. According to Vice, prescription variants of Purple Drank, referred to as Lean, is experiencing a resurgence. In addition, cough syrup addiction is happening around the world. Many images remixed feature the character Homer Simpson in reference to the episode Flaming Moe’s (S3E10), in which the cast mix cough syrup with alcohol. The imagery is so prevalent, Adobe offers professionally curated image assets available for purchase in their stock image store.

217 Purple Drank Search Trends USA Google Trends – past 10 years

UK Google Trends – past 10 years

Canada Google Trends – past 10 years

218

219 Abramovitch, S. (2013, March 15). Justin Bieber Arrest: What Is Sizzurp? The Hollywood Reporter.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/justin-bieber-arrest-what-is-

429205/ Agnich, Stogner, J. M., Miller, B. L., & Marcum, C. D. (2013). Purple drank prevalence and characteristics of misusers of codeine cough syrup mixtures. Addictive Behaviors, 38(9), 2445– 2449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.03.020 Korn - Chopped, Screwed, Live & Unglued Album Reviews, Songs & More. (2006, September 26). AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/album/chopped-screwed-live-unglued-mw0000548431 Lee, C. (2016, June 14). Lil Wayne seizure puts spotlight on rappers’ use of “sizzurp.” Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-lil-wayne-sizzurpcodeine-20130321-story.html Tanner, A. (2017, September 18). Purple Drank and the NFL: Johnny Jolly Isn’t the Only One Getting Caught. Bleacher Report. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/421758-purple-drank-andthe-nfl Three6MafiaVEVO. (2009, October 25). Three 6 Mafia, UGK (Underground Kingz), Project Pat - Sippin On Some Syrup (video). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOWKGXpl9E0 Wikipedia

contributors.

(2022,

November

6).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopped_and_screwed

Chopped

and

screwed.

Wikipedia.

220

Quintessential Pavel Belansky The key word which I find is crucial to adolescent development is quintessential. The meaning of quintessential is defined as being a perfect representation or example of a thing or person. The use of this word lacks much historical significance from my research on it, some origins of the word come from French and Latin, and its noun, quintessence, originally was defined as describing the essence of heavenly or divine (Etymology, n.d.). Therefore historically, the word has always been used to describe examples of perfection. Through my writing experiences I have only come across this word once, yet as a word it has a definition which is essential to the adolescent experience. Its synonyms are crucial to understanding its true meaning and social importance. Similar terms of the word according to Oxford dictionary are: stereotypical, archetypal, classical, typical, prototypical and model. Quintessential encompasses all these words since a perfect example of something must derive from a preconceived perception of the topic in question. In order to formulate an understanding of the characteristics of the example we must incorporate stereotypes, archetypes, and classical views. A major issue with adolescence is the prevalence of stereotypes, where young adults are pressured from teachers, peers and media to fit into certain societally created categories (D’Amico, 2022). In my own experience I have often seen teachers refer to racialized students as the quintessential student athlete, or the quintessential future med student. This puts pressure on adolescents to fit into the norms presented by their peers and educators. Academic research shows that fitting in can be more important to most young students than academic achievement, thus this demonstrates the importance of fitting in (Schall et. al, 2014). Stereotyping can lead to severe mental health issues in adolescence regardless of the stereotype being positive or negative (D’Amico, 2022). If a person is seen as having to be smart or having to be athletic, then they can

221 become subject to self-fulfilling prophecy, where their success will be influenced by how they or others perceive them instead of what their full potential truly is (D’Amico, 2022). Not only does stereotyping supress talent and potential, but among many teenagers there is a unattainable stride to become the quintessential representation of who they want to be, or they stride to not be the quintessential representation of what they are perceived as (Pickhardt, 2015). In psychology this is referred to as socially prescribed perfection and is described by the American Psychological Association as being one of the three types of perfectionism disorders (Benson, 2003). They find the connection between depression and mental health crises and socially prescribed perfectionism in students. These pressures from teachers, peers, and parents can cause unhealthy and unrealistic goals which then later can manifest as depression and anxiety disorders. In conclusion, in order to avoid further issues resulting from stereotyping of low and high expectations, it is crucial to breed a culture of acceptance, tolerance and reality checks in adolescents’ lives. A culture they are no longer viewed or pressured to be the quintessence of anything, instead, they are just viewed as being their own individual selves with ever changing capabilities and goals. The two sources where we can learn more about the impacts of high expectations and the power of quintessence based stereotypes are an article from Pickhardt (2015) (non-academic) and Schall et. al, (2014) (academic) discusses the importance of belonging in school and gives educators information on how to intervene in cases of exclusion.

References

222 Benson, E. (2003, November). The Many Faces of Perfectionism. Monitor on Psychology. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov03/manyfaces#:~:text=Socially%20prescribed%20perfect ionism%2D%2Dbelieving,and%20other%20problems%2C%20including%20suicide. D'Amico, P. (2022, August 30). How stereotyping your teen can be damaging. Paradigm Treatment. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://paradigmtreatment.com/stereotyping-teen-damaging/ Pickhardt, C. (2015). Adolescent excellence and managing high expectations. Psychology Today. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/survivingyour-childs-adolescence/201503/adolescent-excellence-and-managing-high-expectations Quintessential (adj.). Etymology. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/quintessential Schall, J., Wallace, T. L. B., & Chhuon, V. (2014). ‘fitting in’ in high school: How adolescent belonging is influenced by locus of control beliefs. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 21(4), 462–475. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2013.866148

223

Rumination Gianluca Gardiman A keyword that is central to the study of adolescence and health is rumination. According to Merriam Webster, one way in which rumination can be defined as is, “obsessive thinking about an idea, situation, or choice especially when it interferes with normal mental functioning” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). The term’s origin appears in a ground-breaking paper in 1991 where researcher, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema presented the response style theory related to rumination (Lewis & Joorman, 2018). Nolen-Hoeksema considered rumination as a “passive and repetitive style of responding to negative mood that prolongs negative mood and increases the likelihood for depressive symptoms” (Lewis & Joorman, 2018). Rumination is a complex term and while it may not be a common word mentioned by many young children and youth on a daily basis, there is a probability that they have undergone this feeling. The way rumination effects an individual varies, as some people may find they are aware of these thoughts and can manage them while others may react differently and can take a toll on them physically, mentally, and emotionally. Rumination is challenging when it comes to trying to understand the experiences of young people. Many children and youth keep their thoughts to themselves and may struggle to speak to someone, whether that is a friend, parent/guardian, teacher, coach or trained professional (e.g., doctor, counsellor, therapist) because they may feel ashamed of what they have to share. I personally have experienced rumination and did get to a point in my life where I needed to see a therapist to seek help for this problem that I had. It really affected me in school, where I would fear failing classes, even though I did extremely well throughout my entire education. However, in speaking to a therapist who has helped me cope with this problem, I have seen significant improvements over the years now and learned how to manage moments

224 where I am suffering from rumination. I understand now these are just purely thoughts that I am experiencing, will eventually fade away and are not in control of me. Rumination is a word that relates to youth’s health and well-being because it can cause distress in their life and affect them socially as well as throughout their journey in the education system. It is common that people that suffer from rumination share the following characteristics, faced a history of trauma, believe they have ongoing intense stress, show personalities focused on perfectionism, neuroticism, and extreme relational focus. (Law, 2005). Having read, Jim Harrison’s poem Rumination, there is one specific part that resonated with me (Harrison, 2019). “In this world of dreams don’t let the clock cut up your life in pieces (Harrison, 2019).” I believe everyone that suffers from rumination should seek help immediately. Life is an extraordinary gift because we are not here forever. We should not have to spend time worrying about unnecessary ideas/things but rather live and enjoy life to the fullest without suffering. Rumination should be discussed more amongst children and youth, so that society can end the stigma of being afraid to seek help and assistance on the negative obsessive thoughts that hurt us. References: Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Rumination. In Merriam-Webster.com medical dictionary. Retrieved from, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/rumination Harrison, J. (2019). Parting words: Rumination by Jim Harrison. Tricycle. Retrieved from, https://tricycle.org/magazine/jim-harrisons-rumination/ Law, B. M. (2005). Probing the depression-rumination cycle. Monitor on

225 Psychology, 36(10). Retrieved from, https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov05/cycle Lewis, Elizabeth J., & Joorman, Jutta (2018). Rumination. obo in Psychology. Retrieved from, https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199828340/obo9780199828340-0206.xml

226

Salty Elise Bondi Salty. A word used to describe something that tastes salty or contains a lot of salt (Cambridge Dictionary, 2022). But what if the term is now used to describe something entirely different. In today’s world of pop culture and mainstream media, the slang term “salty” is used when “describing somebody’s emotional condition” (Slangwall, 2022). It is used amongst adolescents to describe a person who is bitter, “annoyed or upset, especially when,” something or someone is being unreasonable or taking up time (Cambridge Dictionary, 2022). It can be a particular situation that makes you or someone else seem irritated or not in a good mood. Salty, along with so many other slang terms can help create bonds with friends in real life and through social media. Pop culture is a great outlet in generating slang for teenagers and is the best platform for it to be used amongst youth. It is something that most adults do not understand, and it has become a secret language shared and communicated between teens alike. The origin of the term “salty” dates back to the middle of the 15th century according to the Oxford English dictionary. It was not until the mid-1860s that the formation of its slang form was recorded, and it was at this point in history that it was defined or used to “mean racy or piquant” (KnowYourMeme, 2015). By the late 30s, the sense of the slang term “salty” was first attested and by 2007 “an entry on the term was submitted to urban dictionary” (KnowYourMeme, 2015). Looking at most websites, it explains that “salty” originated from Philadelphia as a means of “looking stupid,” however, the word dates back “eight decades in

227 African-American usage” (WSJ, Ben Zimmer, 2015). During the 1930s the term emerged in the African-American communities and was expressed as “jump salty” which referred to someone becoming angry or annoyed suddenly. After this, the word continued to evolve and the “jump” part was dropped making “salty” the new slang word which continued to persist “as urban slang in cities like Philadelphia” (WSJ, Ben Zimmer, 2015). Although the term has been around for decades with its meaning evolving, the word “salty" that we know today, is becoming a popular slang term again. This means that at one point in time it stopped being popular until someone brought it back into the slang world. The word “salty" helps us understand the experiences of young people because it allows us to pinpoint when somebody is annoyed, bitter or just upset. It also helps us understand why someone, such as a teenager, may use the term "salty" in situations to describe when and why they are annoyed or upset. This is not the only case though, "salty" can be used to defuse situations in which it can be taken in a joking manner or to lighten up the mood/situation. However, the word can also be used to describe someone else’s mood or character negatively which in turn could lead to someone else's “saltiness.” For example, telling someone that they are acting salty for no reason, could be a way to annoy or upset a person more if you describe their character as “salty”. It is important to note the contexts in which the word "salty" is used as it can indicate whether an adolescent is using it as a joke or in a negative light. Slang vocabulary can be exceptionally difficult for adolescents who are English language learners or ESL students, as they can misunderstand or use the term in the wrong context, leading to potentially difficult situations (e.g., fights). In the end, the word "salty" can be very relatable to youth's health and well-being as it describes a mood that adolescents feel fairly often. At this stage of their life and development, teenagers are

228 often described as "moody" beings, so applying this word in their everyday conversations often helps them describe themselves or others. It is no question that teen slang is used as “coded language as an expression of independence," as well as "a way to create an identity separate from parents"(TODAY, YouTube, 2016). A lot of slang terms tend to "get hot fast and burns out even faster" (TODAY, YouTube, 2016). Who is to say that "salty" will not go out of style today OR continue to evolve like it has been for centuries?

Work Cited Salty. Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/salty Grey , E. (2022, October 5). Salty. Know Your Meme. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/salty Salty. Slangwall. (2022). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://sites.pitt.edu/~emk4/comp2/salty3.html Images, G. (2015, January 18). A 'salty' word with a promising future. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-salty-word-with-apromising-future-1421427784 Teens Tell All About Slang Like ‘Lit,’ 'Salty,’ ‘Down In The DMs’ And More | Today. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://youtu.be/wZO1daK1PN0. 1862 - Don't Get Salty about this New English Slang. (2022). YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://youtu.be/wlp9KnXuyjc.

229

Sativa Pranita Santosh The keyword I have chosen for this assignment is Sativa. Sativa is one of two common strains of cannabis and is often known for its possible highly stimulating effects on an individual. The counterpart to Sativa is Indica, known for its potential effects of inducing deep relaxation. When looking at Sativa, one of the reasons youth usually gravitate towards it is because of the common idea that it causes them to be more alert and aware of their surroundings, allowing them to focus more effectively. However, research shows that different types of sativa affect each individual differently. While some may feel high, others would feel low. In one study, they found that youth who start smoking as early as 16 often find themselves having poor reaction time, bad memory and as well as a shorter attention span (Jacobus & Tapert, 2014), which contradicts the popular belief mentioned earlier that Sativa allows for more focus. Jacobus’ and Tapert’s article (2014) also mentions how the use of sativa can often bring out or enhance underlying medical conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This raises the question of how brain development is affected by using Sativa as an adolescent vs. an adult. The different strains of marijuana are usually introduced to youth and adolescents in their early teens, which is a time of exploration. It is also a time when they are more perceptible to peer pressure. The need to fit in and a fear of missing out are driving factors that may lead youth to start smoking. This means that many adolescents initially use marijuana without knowing its long-term effects. As marijuana becomes more normalized, it is important to start educating our youth on it from an earlier age. This education would allow them to make more informed, safe, self-directed decisions. Discussed thus far are the reasons and effects of Sativa from a recreational use point of view. However, in many cases, it is used as a medical treatment for youth. Prescription Sativa is

230 known to help with depression, headaches, nausea, and loss of appetite (McPartland, 2015). Using sativa for medically treating depression gives insight into why adolescents recreationally consume it. Adolescents undergo many life and identity changes and are still learning to navigate it all. They use Sativa to escape their reality, even for a limited time. This outlet also shows how youth would instead turn to drugs than seek help from others. There are circumstances that lead to this decision but looking at it from an educator’s point-of-view, it is important to create a safe space within schools which would allow for alternate ways of dealing with the stresses of adolescence. One famous movie that introduces youth to the common effects of Sativa is The Breakfast Club. Not only does the breakfast club explicitly show a scene where an individual is high off of Sativa, but the movie also looks at many other struggles and hardships that youth go through in their teenage years. Attached on the following page are two recent videos catered to youths on the effects of weed, along with two journal articles that discuss the science behind the different types of marijuana.

References and Additional Sources Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S. F. (2014). Effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain. Current pharmaceutical design, 20(13), 2186–2193. https://doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990426 McPartland J. M. (2018). Cannabis Systematics at the Levels of Family, Genus, and Species. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 3(1), 203–212. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2018.0039 Movie: The Breakfast Club

231 Video: Try Guys Extremely Stoned Trivia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKiFkwsVIWA Video: The Try Guys Test High Driving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cciw0MyXMyI

232

Self-conscious Salvatore Inserra The term self-conscious can be used to understand the experiences of young individuals. With this being said, the dictionary defines the term self-conscious as “excessively aware of being observed by others” and “conscious of oneself or one’s own being” (Dictionary.com). With regards to the history of the term, the idea of self-consciousness actually existed in the medieval and ancient periods (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2017). Individuals such as Aristotle discussed aspects of self-awareness in his work and this continued in the early modern period as well (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2017). Having said this, the term self-conscious can be used to understand various experiences of adolescents; one being their focus on physical appearance. In adolescence, physical appearance is very important and as a result they purchase various types of shoes, jewelry, makeup, and clothes that makes them feel confident and aligns with popular culture. Also, during adolescence, individuals are very conscious about other people potentially judging them, and this is the case especially with friends. Adolescents may dress in certain ways around friends in order to assimilate with them and the overall culture. They are aware and often worry that they may be judged by other individuals for not following certain trends. Additionally, an awareness of being looked at by other people can explain when adolescents behave in a certain manner and experiment with things in order to “fit in” with a group of individuals. For example, when around a group of friends, adolescents can experience peer pressure and thus engage in the use of drugs such as weed for the first time in order to fit in. Although they may not have the desire to use weed, they may still do so in order to avoid being viewed as an outcast and judged by others. Also, teenagers may act in certain ways around different groups of people in order to assimilate with them and avoid criticism. For example,

233 adolescents may feel comfortable talking about certain topics around one group of friends but avoid doing so around others. Furthermore, the term self-conscious can be related to the health and well-being of adolescents. Having said this, the awareness of being potentially judged by others can cause adolescents to hold thoughts in their minds that have an impact on their well-being. For example, adolescents may think that a group of peers may judge them in a negative way for wearing certain clothes or behaving in a certain manner. In fact, situations where adolescents are concerned about facing potential judgement can cause them to become stressed (Somerville, 2013). Therefore, this stress experienced by adolescents can certainly have an impact on their overall health and well-being. Furthermore, the focus on their physical appearance can lead adolescents to experience different emotions as well. They may compare aspects of their physical appearance to peers or even other individuals on social media. In doing so, this can lead to either positive or negative impacts on their self-esteem and also well-being. Sources Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/self-conscious Somerville, L. H. (2013). The teenage brain: Sensitivity to social evaluation. Current Directions in Psychological Science: a Journal of the American Psychological Society, 22(2), 121– 127. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721413476512 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2017, July 13). Self-Consciousness. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/self-consciousness/#AnciMediDiscSelfCo

234

Senioritis Perri Feldman

235

Sexuality Matei Penelea Sexuality is a term that outlines a person’s identity in relation to the genders they are attracted to. Throughout adolescence, young adults have a very difficult process of discovering themselves and finding out who they are. Once they enter high school, this task becomes even harder. Despite having other friends and people they know with them; they are exposed to new ideas and terms that they might not have been familiar with years before. I know from my own high school experience, I had witnessed more and more people getting into relationships, and showing their affection for each other in the hallways in between classes, either through hand holding, or kissing. With someone young attempting to find themselves, and figure out who they truly are, this could all be very confusing to them. Alongside the rise of puberty and new feelings they might be experiencing, they must juggle their schoolwork, and new social aspects they did not have previously. This could in turn impact how individuals fit in to their friend group. It’s no secret that high school can be a very lonely time for some students, making them feel like they don’t belong due to their sexual orientation or preference, causing confusion and a sense of falsehood. There is also a difference between sexual standards that can be present throughout those formative years (McKinney & Sprecher, 2010). To someone who has little to no experience with sexuality, they can be easily convinced or swayed to abandon their beliefs and views to fit in, or to remain in a relationship with their partner. It is important to keep sexuality in mind when studying adolescence, as it is such a large part of their development. At that age, they start going through puberty, and start having feelings that they might not have felt or experienced beforehand. Many teenagers make their decisions based on these feelings, and the desire to fit in. Maybe their friends are all in relationships, and they decide to go into one to fit in, and not be the odd one out. Nowadays, with such an impressive stride of inclusivity with regards to sexuality and gender, it could be harder for some students to discover themselves and find who they truly are in a high school environment, while others might find it easier. Keeping sexuality in mind when studying adolescence can help us understand how to make this process easier for the young adults. Alongside this, being forced to assimilate to groups that students might not normally associate with and must either hide or ignore who they really are could cause lasting damage and trauma. It could greatly impact their future, and how they see themselves. If individuals spent years of their lives ignoring who they really were, and forced themselves to fit

236 in with other people, they could feel lost later in their life, and feel like they don’t’ belong once again. It’s important to keep in mind sexuality when studying adolescence, as it provides important insight into their formative years, and helps enlighten the decisions they might have made. References McKinney, K., & Sprecher, S. (2010). Sexuality in close relationships. Psychology Press. YouTube. (2020, May 14). Understanding sexuality and sexual orientation for teens (2020). YouTube. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gPOszo-hNM

237

Shame Sophia Butrico For this assignment, the key word I chose that I believe can be an accurate representation of young adults is the word, “shame.” I decided to represent this word in a poster form attached below, because I was able to incorporate many aspects, and images that I believe relate back to the emotion of “shame” in adolescence. In particular, shame in adolescence stems from a variety of sources, but I believe the main source of shame stems from social media. The focal point of my poster demonstrates a social media post, where two anonymous users are commenting mean and shameful comments towards the individuals in the post. Shame and guilt stem from others within the community, specifically through mean and hurtful comments that bring upon insecurities, especially during the teenage years. At the bottom of my poster, I added many different individuals that represent the various emotions that the feeling of shame can bring about. Finally, around the poster I incorporated different social media icons, such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter that reflect where most hurtful and shameful comments originate from, especially within the current digital era we are present in. Ultimately, shame plays a significant role in young adolescent health and development. During this vulnerable age, anonymous shaming via social media and other platforms can lead to even greater problems such as peer pressure, self esteem issues and depression. To learn more about the effects of shame in adolescence, below I have attached a link to two different articles. The first one discusses a clinical study on shame in adolescence, and the second further discusses the relationship between social media and shame. Finally, the third link provides access to an article discussing the effects of shame, and ways to help young adults. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0273229796900155 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0272431618770809 https://www.katyteenandfamilycounseling.com/post/shame-in-teens-3-tips-for-parents

238

Simp Stephanie Brogno Is being nice a sign of weakness? Many adolescents currently seem to treat kindness in that vein as they have coined a slang term “simp” to disparagingly describe, typically a male, who is soft and kind to females in his life, either friends or those he is romantically interested in/involved with. An example of how the word is being used: Three friends who are all males are hanging out and two of them say to one of them, “you’re being way too nice to Sarah, giving her flowers and taking her out, stop simping man” or if one says, “wow, Sarah looks beautiful” and the others say “you’re a simp” (Urban Dictionary, 2020). The term, which can be used as a noun or an adjective, originates from the word “simpleton” which denotes someone of lower intelligence and without much “common sense” according to the Merriam Webster dictionary (2022). The term first became popular as “simp” when used by West Coast rappers in the 1980s and 1990s who used the word to describe “the opposite of the pimp” in a pejorative fashion (Marcus and Bromwich, 2020). Furthermore, starting in the early 2010s, simp had been adopted by men in the “manosphere”, which are online platforms dedicated to men who engage in misogynistic discourse and who feel that they have been personally victimized by women (Jones et al., 1905-1907). Synonyms that have been associated with the word simp, by these individuals, include very vulgar words like “betas”, “f*ggots” and more (Jones et al., 1916). These groups, who have a desire for males to be seen as “supreme”, use the term simp to emasculate and scorn men who they believe do not “align with the idealised masculine identity” (Jones et al., 1916). Why have adolescents taken a word by groups from online forums of hate groups, associated with groups like “incels” (involuntary celibates) whose members include extremists like the Toronto Van Attack, in order to express their feelings about their friends love lives? The

239 word’s commonplace gives insight into the inside stories of adolescence, one that involves a deflection of pain and emotional experiences (Waddell, 45-48). In Inside Lives, Waddell discusses that individuals who do not have an adult figure to “contain” them (do not have an adult who can listen to them express themselves and offer back the information in a digestible way), may become internalized as an experience of adversity (Wadell, 47). When these individuals experience emotional adversity, they may engage in defensive behaviours including projection (Waddell, 48). Thus, adolescents may make fun of their friends, using vocabulary borrowed from these extremist online spheres, in order to project their emotional confusion and sense of isolation in regard to relationships and intimacy. As parents and educators, how can we recognize, understand and contain the youth’s understanding of relationships? Should we interject when hearing slang with problematic origins, or should space be given for these adolescents to work through their inside stories? Works Cited

Jones, Callum, Verity Trott, and Scott Wright. “Sluts and Soyboys: MGTOW and the Production of Misogynistic Online Harassment.” New media & society 22.10 (2020): 1903–1921. Web. https://journals-scholarsportalinfo.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/details/14614448/v22i0010/1903_sasmatpomoh.xml Accessed 3 Nov. 2022. Marcus, Ezra, and Bromwich, Jonah Engel. “A Short History of ‘Simp.’” The New York Times, 7 Jul. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/07/style/simp-history-slang.html. Accessed 3 Nov. 2022.

240 Merriam Webster. “Simpleton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simpleton. Accessed 3 Nov. 2022. Urban Dictionary. “Simp.” Urban Dictionary, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Simp&page=2 . Accessed 3 Nov. 2022

241

Simp Brooke Do Couto The term, simp, originates from the word simpleton, which was first used to describe a gullible or easily fooled individual. Since then the shortened slang “Simp” has had a resurgence in pop culture continuously shifting in meaning. In the late 80s, the term simp saw its first major resurgence in pop culture when it was used by West Coast rappers and later Three 6 Mafia. During this time simp became synonymous with being “soft” and was often used to contrast the image of pimping as tough. Although not completely gendered this rendition of the term simp saw echoes of what it was seen as today. In recent years simp has resurfaced as a term that describes a man that is overly desperate for women, being persistent even if the woman is undeserving n or has expressed her disinterest in him. Simp culture became a phenom in youth culture as its popularity is mainly attributed to the reiteration of the term across social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, twitch, and Reddit. As the term gained popularity the meaning of the term shifted to refer to any man/ boy that showed interest or respect for women. It became common in comments both online and offline to call a young boy a simp for agreeing with a female take or doing small actions of affection. Today youth use the term simp commonly, some using it as banter and others using it as a demining insult. While some may argue the term is harmless I argue its overuse amongst teenagers can shine a light into complex gender politics. Both in the 80s and the present day simping attributed a layer of softness and femininity to the subject, due to this simping is looked down upon as an insult amongst men. The term becomes problematic when overused among teenage boys as it internalizes the idea of being “soft” or “affectionate” as unmasculine and therefore insulting. The sensationalism of the term amongst teens points to ways gender and sexuality is still a complex issue among teens. If being a simp is seen as bad, then being affectionate, or respectful towards females is also seen as bad. Teenage boys who truly feel offended by the term, simp, may attempt to mitigate the insult by internalizing the idea that they should be wary of showing affection or “softness”. Some may project this internalization onto other boys, deeming those who appear affectionate as simps and those who don't as men. The term inadvertently takes stereotypical binary images of masculinity as hard and femininity as soft, insulting those who dare to cross the lines. The analysis of the term simp and its uprising in youth culture is important as it shows the way youth today are capable of resurfacing and sensationalizing a phenomenon themselves. As well as it also highlights the ways traditional societal views of gender are still internalized in youth and echoed in pop culture. Definitions "simpleton, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, September 2022, www.oed.com/view/Entry/179965. Accessed 1 November 2022. “SIMP.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Oct. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simp. “SIMP.” Urban Dictionary, 2020, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Simp.

242

243

Situationship Ada Shehi Situationship – more than a crush … but less than a relationship. (Hammer, 2021) The word situationship came to existence when the 21-year-old Alana Morrison on the show Love Island USA, on July 10, 2019, she stated “I’ve never had a proper relationship. I’ve been in situationships but never an actual relationship.” This word became a hashtag on twitter and more people, especially young adults have used it to express their personal involvement with others. This is a word describing the relationship where no full commitment is being established but the importance of reoccurrence makes it relevant to the personal and romantic life of the adolescent. During this time, the individual is trying to explore the ways to learn about oneself and is going through anatomical, physiological, and endocrinological changes which lead to sexual drives to explore fantasies. During adolescence, the individual tries to clarify their sexual identity and find a sexual partner, which can lead to identify the person’s personality. The early stage of adolescence, known as puberty about twelve to fourteen years of age, is generally seen as the time of psycho-sexual changes where there is a greater influence into the psychic development of the person’s personality. Freud defines that a person’s personality is structured with lines as a marble and it could break into pieces when thrown on the ground because of underlining preexisting structures. (Waddell, p. 158). The individual starts to create the invisible lines that determines their personality at the most earlier relationship creates, the one with their mother. At different stages of life, people identify their persona related to the relationships or people present in their life and some time it is important to see oneself in the person’s or character’s shoes. The mother is the first persona who a baby has a relationship with and who serves as a role model into developing a individual’s personality. Later in life any relationships or encounters with

244 people have an impact on the development of the identity of the person as it is shown for Simon. (Waddell, p.159) It is important to identify that placing labels on human interactions can cause implications because it can define a person’s character by identifying our concerns and fears toward the outside world. Most growing and developing adolescents lack sexual maturity and fear intimacy, which could lead to cutting out any passionate or deep feelings relationship to a less important interaction as a situationship. Human interaction has a toll on the development of a person’s character and it affects youth’s health and well-being because by identifying this interaction as more important than a one time hook-up and less important than a long time relationship, the young adult tries to camouflage into someone that they are not or would like to be in the future. "And what’s crazy is soon as you fall back, they crawl back, saying they sorry and wait it all back." The word of the song Situationship by Fabulous shows that even though situationships are described as not very important, can be reversible when interest is shown from both parties involved. The word of the song states the importance of reoccurring of the situationship and the declaration of feelings through gestures (crawl). Many psychologists clearly identify the importance of relationships in a person’s development of character and personality and it seems that new studies need to show the relevance of these concepts to the term situationship. Citation “Fabolous (Ft. Mack Wilds & Tiara Thomas) – Situationships.” Genius, https://genius.com/Fabolous-situationships-lyrics.

245 Hammer, Katherine. “Your Genuinely Helpful Guide to Situationships Situationships.” Girls’ life (Baltimore, Md.) 28.2 (2021): 46–82. Print. Waddell, Margot. Inside Lives Psychoanalysis and the Growth of the Personality. Rev. ed. New York: Karnac Books, 2002. Print.

246

Situationship Victoria Simoes

“When you and your partner have sex, hold hands while driving, call every night, fall asleep on the phone, tell each other that u love them but as FRIENDS, and tell each other everything. But you guys are only buddies (Urban Dictionary, 2022).” Although this may not be the most academic definition, user Hahapicklesarecute does a great job in capturing the experience of a situationship. The term depicts the relationship of two individuals who are really into each other, do everything a couple would do together, yet refuse to have a conversation about commitment. A situationship allows the people involved to have an emotional presence and connection in person but freedom when apart. The saddest part is, a lot of people find themselves in the middle of them by accident. I’ve heard the phrase “going with the flow” being tossed around the Gen Z dating space as a term to ease the pressures of navigating a relationship. But I find it is the number one excuse to avoid accountability and DTR - defining the relationship. Unfortunately, this dynamic has become the new way of coining the relationships that exist amongst most adolescents in the year of 2022. Why would someone want to be in a situationship you might ask? Well, most people think this type of relationship is harmless. It can offer a fun, stress-free way to enjoy the benefits of a relationship without major emotional commitment… provided that both partners are on the same page. If both parties are not in agreement, it is the easiest way to get ones feelings hurt. The harsh truth is, more often than not, at least one person in the situationship grows attached even if they had no intention to. Undoubtedly, it can be hard not to develop feelings for someone when time and energy is invested into them. When this happens, the situationship becomes a connection where one person (full of hope) thinks they can turn it into a labeled relationship. This person begins to feel deep emotions, crave stability and starts to develop expectations that their partner is not committed to meeting. At this stage, the situationship can get very tricky to navigate and it holds the potential to affect one’s self-worth and mental health. The one who is hoping for more may begin to question why they’re not good enough for an exclusive

247 relationship, what they could change about themselves to gain their partner’s approval. Technically, both individuals are not in a relationship, so this also brings up questions about boundaries. When is it okay to say something about behaviours that make you feel uncomfortable? Are you even able to address it? These are valid thoughts to have for someone you share intense emotional bonds with. Feelings of doubt and resentment may also surface. Self- doubt is a huge theme prevalent in situationships because people will pass their feelings off as being no big deal. This constant burying of emotions will eventually foster a deep sense of resentment for the other person because your needs aren’t being met by the one you want them to be fulfilled by. Being in a situationship may even lead someone into a position where they can’t seem to walk away even if they don’t enjoy the way their situation makes them feel. They feel stuck and are then perpetuating a loop of invalidating their own experiences and feelings because they think that they should not be feeling this way to begin with. All because the other person is “not” their boyfriend or “not” their girlfriend. Learn more about situationships: Journal Article: Gibson, T. J. (2020). If You Want the Milk, Buy the Cow. Book: Jalili, C. (2021). Just Send the Text: An Expert's Guide to Letting Go of the Stress and Anxiety of Modern Dating. Tiller Press. Website: Is Your “Situationship” Harming Your Mental Health? By TalkSpace Song: Love Galore by SZA Movie: No Strings Attached Bibliography Gibson, T. J. (2020). If You Want the Milk, Buy the Cow: A Study of Young Black Womens ExperSituationships.

Is your "situationship" Harming your mental health? Talkspace. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.talkspace.com/blog/situationship-mental-health/ Jalili, C. (2021). Just Send the Text: An Expert's Guide to Letting Go of the Stress and Anxiety of Modern Dating. Tiller Press. Rice, K. (2022, August 29). 900+ funny ideas in 2022: Funny, funny memes, funny relatable memes. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.pinterest.ca/k_srice/funny/ Situationship. Urban Dictionary. (2022, August 30). Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Situationship&page=2

248

Slay Simon Pellerin

SLAY Modern uses of the word ‘slay’ vary, from metaphorical phrases equivalent to ‘killing it,’ to describing acts of excitement and to its literal definition of violence. Today, ‘slay’ is used by people of all ages but primarily utilized by teenagers to describe successes and excitements. Using it as a phrase to describe something has now become overused as a result of its popularity on social media – primarily TikTok and Instagram – via use of hashtags such as #slay #slaytheday #anotherdayanotherslay. When looking into the origins of the modern day use of the term, its common use becomes problematic and appropriative despite adolescents' widespread use of it. The word ‘slay’ – as a metaphor referring to something exemplary – originally comes from the 1970s and 1980s, in underground LGBTQ+ Black and Latin ballroom subculture primarily in New York City (Aspen 2022). This subculture and groups connected to it operated as communities free to express themselves while combating racism in America. In the early 2000s, ‘slay’ entered the mainstream culture through the drag community and was later picked up by celebrities like Beyonce and then used by many non-queer or BIPOC (Aspen 2022). The widespread use of the word by cisgendered people in non-queer spaces becomes problematic because it ignores its rooted history in violence and oppression for marginalized groups. That is not to say people should not use it in conversation, but rather they should be aware of its context and how, depending on who uses it, they may be benefiting from a privilege that others do not have. ‘Slay’ becomes important in understanding the experiences of adolescents because use of this word and others similar to it – period, gurl, queen – can act as signifiers for queer students. In other words, cis-straight men do not generally use this word for fear of being called ‘gay’ and not being perceived as masculine while women, queers and gays use it much more often and freely

249 in conversation. Generally, a lot of gays use queer-originating words and other identifiable traits as ways of not only identifying themselves to other people, but as a way to potentially locate similar people in a space. Similarly, the term ‘gaydar’ (gay radar) is well known and refers to gay peoples’ ability to identify other gays in a space while their heteronormative counterparts may be completely and utterly unaware. It therefore becomes a way for queer people to insert themselves in a predominantly heterosexual and heteronormative society and create a safe space and community of their own. Understanding words like ‘slay’ and other queer identifiers are helpful when trying to support students who many be LBGTQ+ or who may still be figuring it out. It comes down to creating a balance between observing and trying not to judge or rely on stereotypes. While knowing the sexuality of your students is not necessarily essential for their success, it is a part of who they are and it can be helpful to know, especially when dealing with the idea of lack of representation or support for marginalized students in schools. Reference List Aspen, V. L. (2022, June 26). The Origins of “Slay.’ The Daily Californian. https:// www.dailycal.org/2022/06/26/the-origins-of-slay https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=%23slay&t=1667773643385 (Link to #slay on TikTok)

250

Slay Schanelle Wong There are several words in the English-speaking language that are related to the development of young adolescents in our society today. Some of those words may have acquired one meaning in the past, but have evolved into words that embody a completely different meaning today. The word “slay” is important to the study of adolescence and health, and has also had a huge impact on modern society and pop culture today. The word “slay” originally meant to kill or murder in a violent way. It is usually associated with slaining someone in the context of fighting in a war or battle. For example, one may use the word “slay” in the following sentence: He is going to slay the dragon that is guarding the castle. As mentioned before, the term’s history has a different meaning than how it is used in modern days, or at least in a society dominated by urban and pop culture. While the historic version of “slay” has more of a negative connotation to its meaning, the evolved version is used as a compliment or words of encouragement. To “slay” is to do something very well. For example, if you tell someone to go and “slay” a performance or routine, you are encouraging them to go perform exceptionally well. “Slay” doesn’t necessarily have to describe an exclusive action but it is generally used in a positive context. Let’s say a person walks into the room with a really nice outfit on and another person yells “SLAY!”. The person hasn’t necessarily done anything exceptionally well, but their outfit was so well put together that it amazed the other person. When a person is amazed or stunned by excellence, in any kind of aspect, they may use the word “slay” to demonstrate what they’re feeling. “Slay” can also be used in past tense. We can use the performance example again. If you tell your friend that they “slayed” their performance, it generally means that they have crushed their performance, in a good way. The word “slay” can help us understand the experiences of young people. By learning the meaning behind slang that is curated by social media, teenagers, and/or pop culture, we talk and view part of the world in the adolescents’ perspectives. “Slay” is generally used by younger individuals rather than older generations. It helps us understand the concept of what teenagers are talking about or how they feel towards an object, an idea, etc. I personally use the word “slay” quite often with my friends as it is a relatively easy way to express my astonishment and admiration for someone or something. Because it is usually used as a word of encouragement, “slay” could have an impact on youth's health and well-being. It is used in a positive manner which can improve one’s mood, behaviour, or well-being because it is generally received as a compliment. When a person gives you a compliment using the word “slay”, there is a sense of acceptance and appreciation from your fellow peers, especially those who are around your age and within your community. Young adolescents already have a lot going on; dealing with personal issues, struggling through school, not feeling the greatest mentally, etc. When “slay” is used to uplift one another, it is a gateway to creating a welcoming and positive atmosphere all around. Sources: Academic source: https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/slay/ Non-academic source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypREc4J5Ey0

251

252

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

261

262

263

264

265

Stan Christopher Annett The keyword “stan” is a popular word spreading across social media like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and is used primarily among younger people and youth. This word refers to a fans of celebrities who may go to any length to prove their devotion to their favourite celebrity. The history of this word comes from an Eminem song named Stan about a dangerous devoted fan who is willing to kill another person in order to impress the rapper. This term has raised to prominence online within the last 5 years and other origins of the name may also be from the combination of the words “stalker” and “fan” (Oliver, 2021). The word is used as a noun and a verb as someone can identify as a stan and they can also stan a new song, film, social media post, personal romantic relationship, etc. Most stans use social media anonymously and create names and post pictures related to their chosen idolized celebrity. Some of the activities that typical stans do online may consist of repeatedly streaming artists songs to raise their place on music charts, regularly posting about their celebrity, creating and popularizing hashtags, raising money for causes celebrities endorse, participating in “stanwars” of perceived celebrity rivals, and defending their celebrity during scandals (Vincente, 2021). Although the history of “stanning” a celebrity stems from unhealthy roots the term may have been co-opted by well-meaning individuals and social media users who have a healthy frame of reference for celebrity boundaries. As words are used by people and groups their meanings can change over time and can separate from the murderous connotations of its origin. However, there have been cases in which stans have broken into celebrities’s houses, or threaten to kill celebrities’ entire families. Still these examples are quite rare and extreme. The word “stan” is important to the study of adolescence and health because with the combination of smartphone access and social media young people may not have the resistance to compel themselves to stop their unhealthy celebrity worship. In the past it wasn’t uncommon to hear of excited fans of celebrities and groups such as The Beatles, Micheal Jackson, etc showing their adoration. At that time fans could write letters or read about celebrities in magazines and it was mostly one-way communication. However, now with smartphones and social media, nefarious celebrities can also more efficiently prey upon their devoted fans and cause harm or sexual abuse such as the case of Hedley singer, Jacob Hoggard’s, sexual assault and rape of a fan in the publicized trial in October 2022 (Casey, 2022). With the addition of addictive smartphones psychologically designed to keep viewers using their devices it is a dangerous combination that can increase the dangers of celebrity worship. This word can help us understand the experiences of young people in that they may end up caught up in a swarm of celebrity worship that perhaps could lead to unhealthy patterns of behaviour such as idolization, believing it’s okay to have constant access to a celebrity’s life, promotion of stalking, and the encouragement of online bullying of people who don’t like a celebrity. The glorification of celebrity worship is alarming given the dangers of it going too far:

266 Individuals with high scores on celebrity-worship scales tend to display a number of psychosocial characteristics. For example, these individuals may harbor concerns about body image (particularly young adolescents), be more prone to cosmetic surgery, and have a personality style characterized by sensation-seeking, cognitive rigidity, identity diffusion, and poor interpersonal boundaries. Likewise, celebrity worshippers may exhibit narcissistic features, dissociation, addictive tendencies, stalking behavior, and compulsive buying. Studies also indicate that individuals with high levels of celebrity worship are more likely to have poorer mental health as well as clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction. (Sansone & Sansone, 2014, p.39) The term stan is related to youth’s health and well-being because the viral nature of social media means apps like Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok can become explosive unpredictable agents of radicalization which may connect youth with mentally ill people or may warp youths’ perceptions altogether. These online echo chambers may encourage dangerous behaviour and herd mentality. People, and especially naive and young adolescents, want celebrities to be unique and at the same time relatable. This contradiction can cause conflict for young minds when a celebrity goes through a heinous scandal or when they find out they aren’t perfect. It is important for adolescents to not hold celebrities to high standards as they are human too with all the typical shortcomings and faults. Analyzing the word stan is one way to view a small possible trajectory of adolescent development and health as it is displayed on online communities like social media. References Casey, L. (2022, October 20). Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard sentenced to five years, granted bail pending appeal. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/9213102/jacob-hoggard- hedleysexual-assault-sentencing/ Oliver, D. (2021, September 7). 'Stan' culture needs to stop – or at least radically change. Here's why. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2021/09/07/stan-culture-fans-needreconsider-how- they-worship-celebrities/5666108001/ Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2014). "I'm Your Number One Fan"- A Clinical Look at Celebrity Worship. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 11(1-2), 39–43. Vincente, V. (2021, November 24). What Is a “Stan,” and Where Does the Name Come From?. How-To Geek. https://www.howtogeek.com/684055/what-is-a-stan-and-where-does-the- namecome-from/

267

Stan Kristen Dodds Stan has become a very prominent word among adolescents’ vocabulary today. Being a stan refers to the youth’s obsession towards a certain celebrity. Stan culture includes many different sub-groups including actors, TV shows, and most prominently, musicians. The term was developed by famous rapper Eminem in his song “Stan.” Eminem came out with “Stan” in 2000 to talk about the unhealthy worship-like obsession fans have towards celebrities. The word itself is a blend of the words “stalker” and “fan” (The Take, 2021). Eminem’s depiction of stans gave the general public a very negative perception of these fans, and older generations already found these types of fandoms to be trivial (Raviv, 1996, 645). While many adults may look at stan culture negatively, it has allowed adolescents to find people with similar interests and create a community that has a positive influence on those involved. More recently, and thanks to the internet, stan has now become a label many youth are proud of and self-identify with. There are many famous and extremely devoted stan groups, including Beyonce’s Beyhive, One Direction’s Directioners, and Taylor Swift’s Swifties (The Take, 2021). Through being a stan of these artists, many youths have been able to positively contribute to society. An example of this is how the BTS A.R.M.Y. matched BTS’ $1 million donation towards the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 (Rolli, 2020). It is important to acknowledge that while stan culture has allowed adolescents to have a

268 safe place in a community that welcomes them, there is toxicity behind the idea of being a stan, as too many people, this becomes an idolization of the celebrity, to the point where fans will be toxic to anyone that dismisses or threatens their celebrity (Raviv, 1996, 632). This can lead to cyberbullying among different stan groups, which can make a safe place for many young people dangerous very quickly. This word is important in the study of adolescent health and well-being because it shows how great of an impact celebrity culture can have on an adolescent’s life. Youth can develop para-social relationships with celebrities they have never met before yet they feel like they know so well and sometimes see themselves represented in the artist. As seen with the example above, the para-social relationship led many youths to mimic the behaviours of who they stan, which can lead to them making a positive, or possibly negative, impact in their community and online (Raviv, 1996, 645). We as adults must make sure to monitor the stan behaviour to make sure it is a healthy and safe environment for adolescents, but it is also important that we allow adolescents to find a community, even if it is through the act of “stanning” an artist, as it brings them joy. For more information on the topic, I suggest examining “The Rise of the Stan, Explained | What Does It Meme?”, a video by The Take which gives a great rundown on the history of stan culture and what it means in today’s world. For a more academic resource, I recommend reading “Adolescent idolization of pop singers: Causes, expressions, and reliance. Journal of Youth and Adolescence”, which looks into how stan culture and the idolization of pop singers affects adolescents’ well-being and how adolescents’ worship the celebrities they grow up with.

269 References Raviv, Bar-Tal, D., Raviv, A., & Ben-Horin, A. (1996). Adolescent idolization of pop singers: Causes, expressions, and reliance. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 25(5), 631–650. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537358 Rolli, B. (2020, June 8). BTS Army matched the group's $1 million black lives matter donation, proving the positive power of fandoms. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2020/06/08/bts-army-black-lives-matter-1million-donation/?sh=58fc55ae6465 Son of Alan. (n.d). Drawing of different Stan Groups Working and Partying in One Room. [Image]. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/25/arts/music/pop-musicsuperfans-stans.html The Take. (2021, February 16), “The Rise of the Stan, Explained | What Does It Meme?” [Video] YouTube. https://youtu.be/QxC4a233zM0

270

Stealth Lucean McCaughin Podcast Transcript Welcome to my EDFE 1100 Keyword assignment in the form of podcast. I am your host and teacher candidate here at York University, Lucean Mc Caughin and today we will be exploring the word STEALTH. During this podcast, I will be sharing what stealth means and a few reasons as to why this word is relevant to Adolescent Behaviour and Development. So. What does the word STEALTH mean? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, STEALTH is defined as a noun that means a cautious, unobtrusive, and secretive way of moving or proceeding intended to avoid detection or not to attract attention. In a military context, STEALTH often describes an aircraft-design characteristic consisting of oblique angular construction and avoidance of vertical surfaces that is intended to produce a very weak radar return —usually used in association with an electronic bot or aircraft. In a medical context, STEALTH means involving or caused by an asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infectious individual in a silent sense. Now because this relates quite broadly to the lives of teenagers, today I will talk specifically about Stealth in terms Stealth Vaping, Stealth Parenting and being Stealth as a transgender person. Vaping is a relative new phenomenon as an alternative to smoking cigarettes or tobacco. It is well documented that cigarettes and tobacco products carry toxic chemicals that lead to cancer and nicotine that is a highly addictive stimulant substance. Vaping emerged as a safer habit due to the elimination of many of the toxic chemicals and tar byproduct. It is also sometimes used as part of nicotine quitting programs when using vaping devices that allow users to adjust the dosage of nicotine. With that said, teenagers who take up the habit often wish to use

271 vapour devices discreetly so that family members, teachers and coworkers do not recognize their use of nicotine THC laden vapour. Enter Stealth vapour devices, low-odour and low-vapour e-juices in 2018. These devices are cleverly designed vapour devices disguised as USB sticks, pens, remote controls, car fobs, smart phones, sweatshirt drawstrings and asthma inhalers are on the market. The JUUL brand is especially popular among youth. It resembles a USB stick and was the archetype of these devices. Unfortunately, these nicotine and THC vapes are not always detectable because of the pleasant smell and flavours. They literally smell like candy, fruit or gum. So students are vaping in class, in the bathrooms on lunch breaks as well as at home without always being seen. Which would not be an issue if there was not concerning evidence linking JUUL vaping to increase nicotine addiction in teenagers. Teenagers have found that they cannot pay attention for very long, have increased or developed anxiety and frequently leave mid-classes to take hits of their vapes. The habit is quite expensive, one high schooler said he was spending around $150 dollars a week on JUUL pods alone. This is concerning and relevant as a teacher. Addiction is difficult to handle, live with and beat. It is harder to students when you don’t see what it is that is causing them to fall behind. Discussion and awareness are needed in schools. Which leads into the next part I wanted to talk about: Stealth Parenting. So stealth parenting is a essentially monitoring your children without their knowledge. It is sort of the next level helicopter parenting tactic. In the recent past, this meant frequent looks at internet search histories, home security cameras or GPS in their phones and bags. Nowadays, parents are using ghost apps installed on new phones they give their kids to read their personal texts, listen to their calls and see what they are searching online. This goes so far as parents logging into their childrens’ social media accounts as well. This is a hot topic because it is an invasion of privacy.

272 With the rise of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and grooming happening online due to the ease of access and shift away from preservation of privacy, parents are at a loss. When it comes to this, we as teachers can include discussions in-classrooms on the importance of preserving privacy online beyond stronger passwords. Sharing of real names, locations and identifiers is something that many kids don’t understand can lead to dangerous situations. It can be hard to build that trust your child and even if you do trust your child, it is hard to trust the outside world. But it is important create a space where your child knows they can come to you in good or bad situations. The final topic as is relevant to youth that I want to discuss is the idea of being stealth as a transgender person. Being stealth for a transgender person is when the individual is seen as cisgender in the gender identity they identify and does not bring attention to the fact that they are not cisgender. This is relevant since teenagers are at different points in their exploration of identity in high school. Some students aim to be noticeably queer and are proud of it. Others prefer to fly under the radar for different reasons. It can be because of concerns for their academic status or physical safety if they are in environments that do not enforce protections for transgender students and faculty. Another reason youth may want to be stealth is a way to feel affirmed in their gender. Being faced with the possibility of peers looking disrespectfully in assessment of your genitalia and question your gender can be a huge trigger for trans kids struggling with body dysphoria and depression. There is particular concern for transmen not being seen as male enough do to the absence of traditional male appendage. Locker rooms are notoriously misogynistic and competitive environments for young men. Just the idea of another guy listening to you doing your business in a stall or inspecting your junk are the urinal is anxiety inducing. This can cause pressure to conform to tradition ideas of maleness that are not attainable for many young transmasculine people. Most school board policies allow for

273 accommodations for transgender students on a case-by-case basis but on a whole, prosthetics are deemed inappropriate. This is especially relevant to me as a transman going into teaching. I am faced with concerns about how I will be perceived as an authority figure and peer. Some of the questions going through my mind include: Will I be taken seriously? Is it worth informing staff and students that I am trans? How do I do this professionally and without seeming attention-seeking? Am I not being authentic if I do not share this very relevant and personal part of me? I know that being open and engaging with students as my authentic self can be a huge positive experience for young folk discovering themselves or who are closeted and hopeless. I must also consider that being stealth may be necessary to protect myself. It is something I will continue to evaluate and explore as I complete this B.Ed program. Thank you for listening, I look forward to your feedback! References: Ramamurthi, Divya, et al. “JUUL and Other Stealth Vaporisers: Hiding the Habit from Parents and Teachers.” Tobacco Control, vol. 28, no. 6, 2019, pp. 610–16, https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054455. Paul, Kari. “Breaking up with My Juul: Why Quitting Vaping Is Harder than Quitting Cigarettes.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 10 Oct. 2019, www.theguardian.com/society/2019/oct/10/breaking-up-with-my-juul-why-quittingvaping-is-harder-than-quitting-cigarettes.

274 Erickson, Melissa. “Stealth Parent?” PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions, www.pressreader.com/usa/imperial-valleypress/20210508/281947430724983. Lythcott-Haims, Julie. “What, Me Worry? the Rise of Stealth Parenting.” Grown and Flown, 5 Apr. 2022, grownandflown.com/rise-of-stealth-parenting-which-side-of-history/. Straayer, Chris. “Trans Men’s Stealth Aesthetics: Navigating Penile Prosthetics and ‘gender Fraud.” Journal of Visual Culture, vol. 19, no. 2, 2020, pp. 255–71, https://doi.org/10.1177/1470412920946827. “Guidelines for the Accommodation of Transgender and Gender Independent/Non-Conforming Students and Staff.” Toronto District School Board, www.tdsb.on.ca/AboutUs/Innovation/Gender-Based-Violence-Prevention/Accommodation-of-TransgenderStudents-and-Staff.

275

Stoner Philip Costa It is no secret that many adolescents consume both alcohol and drugs, despite being underage. Although there are many different types of drugs, the one most commonly consumed is Marijuana or Cannabis. Marijuana is a plant which can be smoked or ingested, inducing psychoactive effects including a relaxed high for the user (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). The popularity of marijuana in adolescents seems to be growing, especially since its legalization in Canada, through the Cannabis Act, in October 2018 (Health Canada, 2022). An individual who chooses to consume marijuana frequently is often referred to as a ‘Stoner’.

What does the word mean and what is the term’s history? Stoner is a slang term, which refers to an individual who regularly uses drugs (especially, marijuana). Some synonyms of the term are pothead or druggie (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). The term stoner originated from the informal term ‘stoned’ which means to be drunk or under the influence of drugs, commonly marijuana. Some sources suggest that the term stoned refers to how an individual would act if they had been hit by a stone (Kelly Pitts, 2022). This also ties to the ancient practice of pelting sinners (the stoned) with stones in order to condemn their actions. Additionally, the term stoner might have originated as those who are under the influence commonly act as passive and motionless as stones (Kelly Pitts, 2022). Many believe the negative connotations associated with the original usage of stoner/stoned still carry over to the modern informal definition; those who consume Marijuana are viewed as lowly members of society, who do not contribute and therefore, should be shamed. These stigmas persist in the way young adolescent marijuana users are viewed today, despite the drug now being legal (MacDonald, 2022). How does this word help us understand the experiences of young people?

276 Given that increasing numbers of adolescents are partaking in recreational drug use, understanding the terms used to describe those students is essential. Understanding a term like Stoner and its associated negative connotations would help future educators avoid employing critical/ judgemental views of students who choose to use drugs like marijuana frequently. Rather than jumping to the conclusion that these students are red eyed, lowlives who are lazy and do not care to participate in school, we must understand that individuals who consume marijuana recreationally (stoners) vary in personality, outlook and life circumstances. Students who choose to consume marijuana may do so for a variety of reasons, including for medical purposes, and may still be highly motivated students. They need to be seen and addressed as individuals, rather than as an inferior collective.

(Cook, 2019) How is this word related to youth’s health and well-being? The use of recreational drugs like marijuana in adolescents, can have severe effects on the overall health and wellbeing of students. According to the government of Ontario website, “Stoners” may experience confusion/dizziness, inability to concentrate and drowsiness in the short term. Additionally, they may experience anxiety, fear, panic, paranoia and delusional thoughts, contributing to the mental health issues that are currently prevalent and increasing in adolescents. Furthermore, those under 25 are at a greater risk of permanent damage to their brain function (for example, concentration) with long-term Cannabis use (Government of Ontario, 2022). All of these effects may be amplified in youth because they are still growing and learning. By understanding the term stoner, and recognizing our preconceived notions of stoners, we can begin to understand our bias and how this might impact adolescent wellbeing and health. Instead, if we become more open-minded to the reasons for drug use, and become more knowledgeable about the overall effects, we will be in a better position to understand the inside lives of adolescents and their health. Want to Learn More?

277

Academic Source: American Stoner By Kelly Carter https://www.proquest.com/docview/1512427690?pqorigsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true Non-Academic Source: All My Friends Are StonersSong by Rich Hardesty References Cook, I. (2019, February 3). 5 tricks to avoid getting red eyes from weed. Leafbuyer. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.leafbuyer.com/blog/red-eyes-weed/ Government of Ontario. (2019, December 13). Health effects of cannabis. ontario.ca. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.ontario.ca/page/health-effectscannabis#section-1 Health Canada. (2022, October 26). Taking stock of progress: Cannabis legalization and regulation in Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/engaging-cannabis-legalizationregulation-canada-taking-stock-progress/document.html MacDonald, R. (2022, April 4). An origin story on the term "Stoner". Leafly. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/canada/origin-story-on-the-termstoner Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Marijuana. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marijuana

278 Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Stoner. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoner Pitts , K. (2020, November 9). What it means to be a stoner: A brief history. Wikileaf. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.wikileaf.com/thestash/what-it-means-tobe-a- stoner-a-brief-history/ * Please note: all images that do not have a citation are copyright-free images from Pexels and PublicDomainPictures.net

279

Suffocating Christopher Miniucci Song Name Suffocating Lyrics Verse Let’s get it Its been on my mind once or twice I lie here and sit the dark.. all alone You told me the price of, my mind Hoping on fairytales of growing old (high) The world doesn’t need me, my breath is so constricted Worse than never feeling, oh Life seems so repeating, guess I'm little worried that I’ll slip away Chorus I feel alone (high) each day is the same I can’t complain I'm suffocating The world is engulfing me, Honestly don’t feel like me, we’re done (Refrain) I think I'm over this lifetime, worried I can’t find I’ve searching for my own way out I dread selfish feeling, Overtaking, it makes me wanna breathe Meaning Adolescence can be seen as a very difficult time of growth and self-expression. There’s so much happening at once, the development of one's personal life, drama, school, changing bodies, changing life goals, etc. It can feel like one’s needs to take a breath, a second even to breathe and take it all in. Breathing can feel like a mental break, a second to ground yourself without feeling the entire world is enclosing you with the pressure of becoming a fully realized adult. It can feel exhausting like running a decathlon with all aspects of the race happening at once, demanding all limbs and energy to simply get to the perceived finish line. I personally felt I was suffocating in my adolescence, being forced to conform to a role set by my parents, seeking risk in ways to develop but never getting the taste of knowing who I truly was through trial and failure. With

280 school ongoing, failed romance, mental health struggles, peer/ parental pressure all while trying to truly discover who I was, and what I wanted, I felt pressured and suffocated by all the demands I was responsible for to stand on my own 2 feet. Adolescence to me can feel so overwhelming and mentally suffocating. A great song to check out would be “How Do You Know It’s Not Armadillo Shells?” By Hot Mulligan. The distress in the voice and conversations in the verses talk about the struggles and distress on trying to navigate life; a lot of conversations about finding time and understanding one's self are brought into question. Another song to check out is by a friend of mine and a local Toronto musician with an amazing talent called “Long Gone Twenty One” by Gavin McLeod, describing the burden and exhaustion that can be felt in your adolescence, trying to simply find a moment to rest before that critical moment in our lives is forever gone. An academic source to analyze on this difficult part of our adolescence can be seen in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry titled “Mental Health in Adolescence: Is America's Youth Flourishing?”. An assessment of youths’ mental health can be seen based on depressive symptoms, substance use and measures of psychosocial functioning. Overall the paper examines the increased need for mental health focus in our adolescence. The paper outlines the many factors contributing to the feeling of suffocation and overload while in adolescence and its effect on the positive development of youth into adults. References Keyes, C. L. M. (2006). Mental Health in Adolescence: Is America’s Youth Flourishing? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(3), 395–402. https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9 432.76.3.395

281

Swiftie Abbie Elsie The term “swiftie” will be defined differently depending on who you ask. In lament terms, the word is defined as someone who is a fan of Taylor Swift. As a swiftie myself, I feel as though the meaning of the word runs more deeply than this. The assumption made by outsiders, is that a swiftie is someone who is obsessed with Taylor Swift, to the point of creating social media accounts, and analyzing her every move in depth. Although this can be true, the term swiftie is something that people can identify with and connect to. It means being a part of a fanbase, and therefore a community made up of other swifties, all of whom find comfort and solace in Taylor Swift and her music. The term comes from Taylor’s surname, Swift, and was created around the time in the early 2000s when fanbases were becoming more popular, and fans were naming themselves based on their favourite celebrities, books, and tv couples. Although I was able to find the exact date it gained popularity, “swiftie” has been around as long as Taylor Swift has been realizing music, which was since the year 2006. Being a swiftie is something that millions of people identify with around the world. Due to this, we are able to understand the experiences of young people based off of their appreciation for Taylor Swift and her music. One of the main reason Taylor Swift possess such a large fanbase is because of her unique storytelling and lyricism. She’s also released albums under multiple genres, likely having something for everyone’s taste. Within the swiftie community, you can understand a lot about a person based off of their favourite song. People have grown up with Taylor. She writes about experiences and stories that people can connect to because they cannot put the feeling into words themselves. When I think of the concept of having personal connection with a song, I think of the Inside Lives readings we discussed in class. I see Taylor Swift and her music as a container for her fans. Similar to how a mother can contain her child’s

282 emotions and makes sense of them for them, Taylor Swift exhibits this in her song writing. She writes about her own experiences, as well as creates new stories in her songs, all of which her fans see themselves reflected in. She makes sense of our emotions and thoughts, and words them in a way that not only makes sense, but makes you feel understood and less out of place. I have heard stories of fan’s explaining that Taylor Swift saved their life, solely because they found her songs to resonate so deeply with them that they felt like they belonged. Taylor Swift writes for those experiencing heartbreak, who have been in love, who are struggling in the working world, and more. Being a swiftie is about more than being a fan of Taylor Swift. It is about finding a place in a community where you are understood and not judged for who you are. This is incredibly important when it comes to youth and their well-being because every teen needs a safe space where they are allowed to feel vulnerable and not alone. Swiftie’s take a lot of pride in being such dedicated fans, and as one myself, I can say that it is a community where I feel appreciated and accepted for who I am. Academic Source: 1. Inside Lives Chapter’s 3, 5 & 7:

Waddell, Margot. (2002). Inside Lives: Psychoanalysis and the Growth of the Personality (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429475979 2. An article that demonstrates how Taylor Swift’s music can have an emotional effect:

Volpe, Mila. “Music’s Powers: Embodiment & Flourishing with Taylor Swift.” Contemporary Music Review, vol. 40, no. 1, Jan. 2021, pp. 60–77, doi:10.1080/07494467.2021.1945228

Non-Academic Source: 1. Urban Dictionary’s definition of “Swiftie”:

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Swiftie

283 2. An explanation behind the song Mirrorball by Taylor Swift:

https://www.tiktok.com/@velsjournal/video/7137139043686452507?is_from_webapp=1&sende r_device=pc&web_id=7162983325756769797 3. A swiftie connecting to the song Nothing New by Taylor Swift:

https://www.tiktok.com/@sadyoungadult/video/7040193157723770118?is_from_webapp=1&se nder_device=pc&web_id=7162983325756769797 4. This is Me Trying by Taylor Swift

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bdLTPNrlEg

284

Tea Jessica Lisena The word “tea” is a term that refers to the sharing of information in relation to sharing or spreading gossip with others (McNealy & Mullis, 2019, p. 110). However, while the term “tea” has now been heavily adopted as a term used in the vocabulary of teens, it has its origins from black drag culture (Merriam-Webster, 2017). The word “tea” is used in a phrase such as “spill the tea” which is a way to let people know that you want to hear gossip or encourage someone to gossip (Merriam-Webster, 2017). Additionally, Jasmine McNealy and Michaela Devyn Mullis (2019) stated that “Gossip – tea – can be sipped (accepted)…or spilled (shared) on gossip-driven social media sites (p. 110). This tea/gossip can be about people or things you know about. However, it can also be about gossip that involves celebrity drama and their private lives that is talked about in person, but more popularly online (McNealy & Mullis, 2019, p. 110). While the word “tea” or phrase “spilling the tea” has gained a lot of popularity amongst youth especially online, it is important to the study of adolescence and health because promoting gossiping can be very harmful to youth and those gossiped about. According to Caivano et al. (2020), “one study demonstrated that…sharing gossip about a friend decreased one’s self-esteem” (p. 222). Additionally, youth found it more acceptable to hear gossip about someone they are not friends with rather “than hear a friend being gossiped about by a classmate” (Caivano et al., 2020, p. 231). Due to this, it is evident that the popularity of promoting gossiping/spilling tea can be detrimental to youth’s health because it will negatively impact their mental health if gossip is spread about them, and it can cause issues for them when they hear their friends being gossiped about by others. For more information on this issue of understanding youth’s perception of gossip, it can be found by further reading the Caivano et al. (2020) article.

285 The word “tea” is important in order to understand the experiences of young people because youth are engaging with each other mostly online by “creating anonymous Instagram accounts” to spread gossip about people they know which is problematic (Jargon, 2021). I chose the word “tea” because it is importantly related to youth’s health and well-being as it evidently demonstrates that while this tea/gossip can be spread amongst youth in person, a lot of this is happening online. As a result, it is leading to more cyberbullying which “…can result in fights, social rejection and self harm” amongst youth (Jargon, 2021). Additionally, the word “tea” represents an issue that is important to the study of adolescence and health because it is concerning that youth are creating social media accounts designated to gossiping called “tea accounts” and spreading rumours about their classmates (Jargon, 2021). Evidently, the use of spreading tea/gossip to others is harmful when looking at how casually the way youth are spreading gossip about others online especially through the way that “tea” spilling is used as a normal occurrence that has embedded itself into teen culture through social media. I think this is an important word that demonstrates the experiences of young people because it has become a part of youth’s actions as a way to interact with their peers. Consequently, this trend amongst youth participating in “spilling tea” is important to understand more about youth’s health and well-being because it has become very problematic, and it is concerning because it has allowed more cyberbullying to occur amongst youth. Furthermore, this word is important to the study of adolescence and health because it allows us to understand how problematic the popularity of “tea spilling” has become amongst youth, and how it is becoming detrimental to youth’s mental health and the relationship they have with their peers. To read more about this perspective on the word “tea” and its relation to youth’s harmful online engagement with social media and cyberbullying, you can access the article by Julie Jargon here.

286 References Caivano, O., Leduc, K., & Talwar, V. (2020). When is gossiping wrong? The influence of valence and relationships on children’s moral evaluations of gossip. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 38(2), 219-238. https://doiorg.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/10.1111/bjdp.12319. Jargon, J. (2021, December 18). ‘Spilling the Tea,’ the Cyberbullying Tactic Plaguing Schools, Parents and Students. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/spilling-the-teathe-cyberbullying-tactic-plaguing-schools-parents-and-students-11639836002. Let’s Talk ‘Tea.’ (2017). Merriam-Webster: Words We’re Watching. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/tea-slang-meaning-origin. McNealy, J., & Mullis, M. D. (2019). Tea and turbulence: Communication privacy management theory and online celebrity gossip forums. Computers in Human Behavior, 92, 110-118. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/10.1016/j.chb.2018.10.029.

287

Test Anxiety Alessio Giovannoni “I’m so nervous, I could vomit.” It is not uncommon for these words to precede an assessment at the elementary or secondary school level. These words are an expression of test anxiety: a form of generalized anxiety that includes physiological symptoms. Test anxiety is hard to study because encounters with it are unique. However, we know that at least one-third of elementary and secondary school students experience test anxiety (Raymo et al., 2018). Test anxiety is paradoxical because several studies have shown that the tendency of our bodies to sense and respond to stressful stimuli (i.e. test-taking) actually decreases test performance (Raymo et al., 2018). Recognition of this fact, however, will not help students to overcome their anxiety. If more of our students are going to take tests in a state of optimal mental health, we need to stop caring so much about the implications of their anxiety on their grades. That is to say, we need to stop conditioning students to care so much about grades. We have to shift our focus to managing test anxiety for the purpose of better mental health, not for the purpose of better grades. This idea struck me when I was listening to a podcast called “Out with It,” wherein two high school students spoke on the topic of test anxiety. Implicit in the strategies for managing their test anxiety was the idea that doing so might result in higher test scores. For example, exercise was described not as an outlet for improved mental health, but rather as an activity that served to enhance focus on schoolwork afterward. I am not suggesting that educators disregard assessment altogether; grades can be extremely motivating for students. The truth is, however, that even if educators approached assessments differently and tried to create a different culture around assessments, students who aim for high marks will likely continue to do so, albeit with less pressure from the leaders surrounding them. This approach may result in lower test anxiety, which ironically, may even lead to higher test scores–but who cares about higher scores? Students who experience test anxiety often have lower self- esteem, fewer positive peer relationships, and are more likely to encounter other generalized symptoms of anxiety and depression (Raymo et al., 2018). These social and emotional outcomes threaten the development and health of a student, and they matter far more than the academic outcome of poor grades. But can educators really decrease adolescent test anxiety? Raymo et al. (2018) found that the strongest predictors of test anxiety were intraindividual factors; specifically students’ perceived threat of tests. They found that contextual factors did not significantly predict test anxiety. But how can a student’s perception of the threat of tests be independent of the context in which those tests are administered? Among the questions asked to students to gauge their perceived threat of tests were “How much do you agree that this test is very important to your GPA?” and “How much would you agree that this test is nothing to get too concerned about?” An adolescent’s idea of how important tests are to their GPA, and their level of fear or concern for a test is absolutely influenced by their educators, peers, and parents; that is to say: the context in which the tests are administered. Therefore, educators can and should change the context around testtaking, and consequently, decrease test anxiety within their classrooms.

288

Sources:

Raymo, L. A., Somers, C. L., & Partridge, R. T. (2018). Adolescent Test Anxiety: An Examination of Intraindividual and Contextual Predictors. School Mental Health, 11(3), 562– 577. Ashika, & Meghana. (2021). Test Anxiety [Podcast]. Out With It.

289

TikTok Mathieu Juras The word I have chosen for this assignment is TikTok, the online mobile application that many of today’s youth use daily. However, this online social media platform has drastically and negatively impacted youth’s mental well-being, their perception of the world and their views on body image. The word TikTok is a play on the phrase “tick-tock” which relates to the sound a clock makes as its pendulum swings back and forth. Launched in 2016, this platform has integrated itself into the lives of countless individuals, mainly young people and adolescents (Lemoine). TikTok is thus crucial to the study of adolescence and their mental health as it is one of the most popular applications used by young people, acting as a sort of window into the minds of how young people think, act and communicate through the form of short 60 second videos. As a result, educators can use TikTok to analyse and study the thought processes of young individuals by watching the content they upload. Social media, in general, has played a huge role in the social development of youth; albeit with negative and sometimes fatal consequences. Many youth now report high cases of depression, anxiety and even body dysmorphia due to the negative influence of social media. In particular, TikTok promotes mental health videos by influencers who have no mental health training or professional medical knowledge. For example, the hashtag #unalivemeplease has amassed 9.2 million views on the platform (Tait). The promotion of this hashtag can negatively affect the mind’s of young individuals, such as children in elementary school who use the platform, as they may be unaware or uneducated on the topic of mental health. Another problem is TikTok’s algorithm and how it recommends videos to its followers. For example, if a person experiencing a severe depressive episode were to continuously watch depressing content on TikTok, the platform itself will continue to recommend content related to depression and anxiety, thus further exacerbating the user’s depressive mood and symptoms. This is particularly a problem among young people as their minds are still developing and are in need of proper and professional guidance; two key elements that TikTok does not accommodate. Another form of media that young people are exposed to on TikTok are politically motivated videos which are often wrought with misinformation and disinformation. This can have a severe impact on a developing child’s mind as they are learning false, racist and misogynistic information on a daily basis, thus incorporating problematic habits from unreliable sources into their daily thought processes. Not everything about TikTok is negative, however, as some young people have used it to make money. For example, up and coming singer Bella Poarch has used the platform to gain notoriety online in order to fund her music career. In conclusion, the word TikTok, once stemming from the harmless sound a clock makes, has become associated and turned into a massive online platform that is negatively impacting the mental health of adolescents. As future educators looking to teach our students about the dangers

290 of online media, we can use TikTok as a tool to educate ourselves about the developing minds of young people and, in turn, guide them in their use of online social media platforms. Links to learn more about TikTok Academic Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.641673/full Non-academic Source: https://9to5mac.com/2022/08/30/tiktok-mental-health/ References Lemoine, Alexa. “TikTok.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, 19 Jan. 2021, https://www.dictionary.com/e/techscience/tiktok/#:~:text=It%20went%20international%20in%202017,with%20competitor%2C%2 0musical.ly. Tait, Amelia. “Are Tiktok Algorithms Changing How People Talk about Suicide?” WIRED UK, 27 May 2022, https://www.wired.co.uk/article/algorithms-suicide-unalive.

291

Toke Vanessa Barker As referenced in The Notorious B.I.G’s graphic song Dead Wrong, “relax and take notes, while I take tokes off the marijuana smoke,” the term toke is commonly used to describe inhaling marijuana. While toke is still used in this context, the term has a broadened usage due to social contagion between marijuana and e-cigarette users. The overlapping user groups (users of both substances) and shared social practices make toking appropriate verbiage in both contexts. The triggers for partaking in these harmful substances both often stem from peer pressure in the adolescent years that may carry on into adulthood. The skyrocketing number of e-cigarettes users, specifically adolescent users, have given the term traction outside smoking marijuana. E-cigarettes, or vapes, have a broad appeal to adolescences. A toke from a vape can be discrete like the devices themselves, due to the often temporary smell. A toke can be offered to others-offering to take a toke from a vape is acceptable, whereas offering a toke from an actual cigarette makes no sense. A toke is enjoyable, a fruity taste that giving a short-lived head rush that can alleviate feelings of anxiety for seconds. It is seen in the eyes of many adolescences as harmless and commonplace. Vapes are designed to be less harmful than cigarettes, accessible, and undetected from parents and teachers. These devices are incredibly easy and affordable to purchase from corner stores or online without age verification like marijuana. The social pressures to fit in with peers are not coercive but situated, like smoking marijuana it is difficult to avoid when friends are users and offer tokes from their own devices. Adolescences offer each other tokes in class, afterschool, at parties, on weekends, so it is increasingly difficult to avoid toking a vape at least once and caving purchase a device for personal use. On popular platforms like TikTok, a vape can often be found in the videos of countless young micro-influencers. But just like actual cigarettes, vapes are highly addictive and can contain a high nicotine content along with a concoction of other substances, so the ability to toke all day is particularly alarming. Young people begin vaping in high school without understanding the consequences on their mental and physical health. Anxiety becomes more difficult to cope with, respiratory and cardiovascular issues emerge, and there is limited conclusive research on the long-term effects. Vapes can serve as gateway into additional illicit substances, like actual cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. Despite this, it is difficult to condemn adolescences for toking their vapes when companies earn billions of dollar mass marketing vapes to young people and government is lax on regulating nicotine content and vape flavours. Massive brands like Juul intentionally or unintentionally targeted young people in marketing their devices. Popularized flavours like Strawberry-Mango, Blue-razz, and Skittles, make it difficult to view these devices as a tool for adults to quit smoking. Until government regulations limit flavour offerings, it is unlikely the year over year growth in adolescences toking their vapes will plateau.

292 Sources CBC News. (2019, September 24). Vaping Sickness: What we know and what we don’t. Front Burner. CBC Podcasts. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0chUk3HoxUIYieNIuo3ZkT?si=OgOWt0UhQOSr3VW3O61RQ Teenage Therapy. (2021, March 12). What It’s Like to Quit Vaping. Teenage Therapy. Flighthouse. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lL8NVKZy5uPl7BBavZzPV?si=yWUcFViLRAC4u7r zosJcVQ Statistics Canada. (2022, July 20). Vaping among adolescents. Retrieved from Statistics Canada: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220720/dq220720d-eng.htm

Notes on sources: Academic-based sources- Stats Canada and CBC News* Non-academic source- Teenage Therapy *somewhat academic

293

Trappin’ Noah Zweig Trappin’ is the act of selling illegal drugs on the streets for the accumulation of wealth. Drug dealers often partake in “Trappin” or making a “Trap House” for clients and customers to. The word originates from Atlanta Georgia and is known slang in the Hip Hop world and with young teens. Drug dealing often goes hand in hand with gang activity and violence. I have researched about 3 relationships between drug use, dealing and violence and crime. First the “pharmacological” effects of the drug on the user can induce violent behaviour; second the high cost of drug use often impels users to commit “economic compulsive” violent crime to support continued drug use (e.g., robbery for the purpose of securing money to buy drugs); and (3) “systemic” violence is a common feature of the drugdistribution system, including protection or expansion of the drug distribution market share, retaliation against market participants who violate the rules that govern transactions, or maintenance of the drug trafficking organization. These relationships are very prevalent in the world of adolescence and perpetuated by the entire music industry. The song I included as a non academic resource is Ghostface Killers, with 316 million streams on Spotify, this song is very popular. There is a lyric in there that goes: “Drug dealers in the Mulsanne, at the top of the food chain (hey) Trappin’ the cocaine (yeah) no gang, shooter with no name” This song glorifies selling drugs stating that those are the people who are at the top of the food chain. This constant connection between success and dealing drugs, without identifying or warning adolescence the dangers that are associated with this act is incredibly irresponsible and harmful. This word helps us understand the experiences of certain young people, the ones who are at the most risk and face the gravest dangers. Even displayed in our course text Persepolis, and far too often a reality for adolescents that are impressionable and/or experiencing financial strain. Additionally in the 80’s adolescents were enlisted to sell and traffic drugs so that adult dealers could avoid harsh penalties associated with adult sanctions for selling heroin and crack cocaine. In terms of how this is related to adolescents health and well being, a statistic shows that 50% of adolescents exposed to alcohol and illicit drugs prior to age 15 are 2 to 3 times more likely increased for adult substance dependence, herpes infection, early pregnancy, and criminal convictions.

Sources Academic source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792760/ Little, M., & Steinberg, L. (2006, November 8). Psychosocial correlates of adolescent drug dealing in the inner city: Potential roles of opportunity, conventional commitments, and maturity. The Journal of research in crime and delinquency. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792760/ Non-Academic Source: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Trappin Trappin. Urban Dictionary. (2005, March 4). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https:// www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Trappin

294 Non-Academic Source Song: Ghostface Killers by 21 Savage, Offset, Metro Boomin, and Travis Scott

295

True Self Christina Cupelli

The true self: Aristotle said, “knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” True Self Defined by Nina Strohminger “it’s the essence of what makes you who you are, who you really are deep down and beyond surface capacities”. It is believed that one’s true self is hidden underneath the constraints and labels of our everyday life. For example, how we present our identities can be impacted by our experiences and the expectations of how others may view us. This can lead us to believe we are true to ourselves; however, it is not who we are deep down inside.

It can be challenging and rewarding for young people to discover their true selves as it involves finding out who they are through life experiences and stepping outside their comfort zones. Young people naturally learn different feelings and behaviours that reveal and uncover the layers of there to their true self-journey.

The word “true self” describes our real personal experiences and reflection of ourselves which plays an important part in adolescent lives. From a young age, adolescents are influenced,

296 shaped, and impacted by many factors in their lives. Family beliefs, peer pressure and the media can determine how adolescents may appear to the world. Therefore, adolescents need to be openminded and expose themselves to different views and possibilities to allow themselves to form their own beliefs that align with their core values. Adolescents need to understand what it means to have their own minds. In doing so, these learnings can sometimes be difficult to absorb. These realizations in how they handle their feelings are how they decide to be themselves in a positive way that exposes their true self. Adolescents should seek to find their true selves by engaging with people and things that give them joy regardless of the judgment they may feel. Maintaining this joy and honouring their true self can be difficult at times because of the constraints they may feel from their parents and school environment.

Adolescents need to identify with their true selves and well-being because it allows them to focus on the things that matter most to them like family, friends, and faith. Adolescents can decide what is meaningful and or not important to them. As a result, this will allow them to let go or walk away from situations and people who do not align with their core values or beliefs. This also gives them the confidence to make decisions that support their true feelings about the situations they find themselves in.

The word true self dates to the 1960s when British psychotherapist Dr. Donald Winnicott developed the concept of a real self and a false self. According to Winnicott’s studies, everyone is affected by these two selves. It is well known that people can create a fake self to shield their deeper, more vulnerable genuine selves. Adolescents also tend to portray their false selves to fit in and hide their true selves around certain people and situations.

297

Rudnytsky, P. L. (Ed.). (1993). Transitional objects and potential spaces: Literary uses of DW Winnicott. Columbia University Press. Strohminger, N., Knobe, J., & Newman, G. (2017). The true self: A psychological concept distinct from the self. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 12(4), 551-560.

https://www.oprah.com/inspiration/deepak-chopra-the-difference-between-the-true-self-andeveryday-self The Mountain is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery by Brianna Wiest Spotify Podcast: The True Self Meditation By Mindful in Minutes Meditation

298

Vaping Joshua Borges It would be fair to assume that many present day Canadian high school students have either partaken in vaping or have known a peer who has. The term ‘vaping’ refers to the utilization of an electronic cigarette, in which users inhale produced vapour into their lungs. An electronic cigarette, or ‘vape’ is a rechargeable handheld device that uses a heating element to aerosolize a liquid, which often contains nicotine, flavouring, and other harmful chemicals. Vaping was not always popular amongst adolescents. Historically, vaping was initially associated with tobacco smokers who switched to electronic cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking. Vaping started to become popular within online communities when ‘tricks’ were being performed with the thick vapour, but the term vaping was still only associated with an obscure community. Electronic cigarettes have evolved over the years, moving from large and unsightly devices to small and sleek ones. This change, along with the appealing fruity flavouring the vape contains and the perceived ‘safety’ of electronic cigarettes, has brought upon a large cultural shift towards vaping amongst adolescents. Statistics Canada reports that 34% of students from grades 7-12 have tried vaping products (2022). Given that nearly one third of high school students have participated in vaping, the activity is a highly prevalent health-risk activity common amongst adolescents today. Vaping raises concerns about the peer and social pressures adolescents face during development. Despite never being explicitly marketed to youth for legal reasons, vaping has become a central aspect to social community for many adolescents. The trend of vaping has been able to spread so quickly due in part to adolescents longing for social acceptance. During

299 adolescence, it is common to experience self-esteem issues, and many seek external acceptance and approval amongst peers. Vaping offers an avenue for adolescents to achieve a level of containment and acceptance within their community. Vaping also reflects the great extents that adolescents will pursue to achieve a level of belonging. In Ontario, one must be over nineteen years of age to purchase electronic cigarettes. This means that adolescent ‘vapers’ must participate in illegal activity to acquire a vape. The inherent risks associated with both purchasing a vape and using it may be related to its popularity amongst youth, as risk-taking is often associated as a normal aspect of adolescent development. Vaping can be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of youth. Most electronic cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. The aerosolized liquid used in electronic cigarettes are filled with chemicals and carcinogens, and the long-term health consequences of vaping are not yet well established. Moreover, vaping electronic cigarettes could lead to adolescents experimenting with similar vape products that contain substances such as THC, the active drug found in marijuana. Being exposed to these drugs can be damaging to the developing brain. Misinformation about the safety of vaping has spread amongst adolescents, and the desire for social acceptance and belonging has led to the activity’s increasing popularity. Greater efforts to educate adolescents on the dangers of vaping may help prevent substance abuse issues from developing amongst the youth demographic. Learn more about vaping and adolescents: Teen Vaping: There is no vapour without fire https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxz137 Drug Free Kids Canada: https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/prevention/issues/vaping/

300 References Chadi, & Belanger, R. E. (2020). Teen vaping: There is no vapour without fire. Paediatrics & Child Health, 25(6), 337–339. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxz137 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/vaping/canada.html Drug Free Kids Canada. (2022). Youth and vaping – a growing trend. https://drugfreekidscanada.org/prevention/issues/vaping/ Statistics Canada. (2022, March 31).Vaping in Canada: what we know. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/vaping/canada.html Stauffer, B. (2019). Classroom vaping [Online image]. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaping-moves-from-the-bathroom-to-the-classroom11566293404 [Untitled illustration of vape in backpack]. (2020). UNC Health Talk. https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-teens-andvaping/

301

Vaping Marina Cuffaro Vaping is important to the study of adolescence and health due to its extreme usage and popularity over the past couple years. Vaping is the act or practice of inhaling an exhaling an atomizer, produced by a vaping product or device (Canada, 2022). Chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik invented the device as means to provide an alternative method to the conventional cigarette smoking (Choucair, 2022). Vaping devices contain nicotine, adolescences who have never smoked cigarettes are now forming a nicotine addiction due to the use of these devices. Vaping provides insight on youth experience due to its social phenomena and addictive substance. Adolescence is a complex period of time that influences many decisions, the social phenomena of vaping increases with more exposure to youth. The social influence around vaping contributes to the lingering effects and uprise of the matter, a blog called Versed Vaper highlights major celebrities that part-take in vaping such as, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Katy Perry and even Lady Gaga (Barnes, 2022). Alongside these A-list celebrities, youth also see a rise of vaping in their demographical Youtubers and TikTokers, social media influencers that generate millions of views are seen vaping which coveys this desired commonality between youth and famous individuals. Influences from social media figures, A-list celebrities, even peer pressure from friends generate this desire to feel accepted and normal. Combining this social phenomenon with an addictive substance increases youth susceptibility to the harmful effects of nicotine. Vaping education and awareness are now being implemented within the grade 4 curriculum. This indicates that preventable measures and teachings are scaling to the brim of early adolescence as the susceptibility increases as youth grow older. Vaping relates to youth’s health and well-being due to the dangers associated of subject matter. The dangers of vaping within adolescences can be seen from the Government of Canada’s website, it states that young brains are still developing

302 well into their 20s; nicotine hinders and alters brain development which can affect memory, concentration, reduce impulse control, cognitive and behavioural difficulties and may predispose adolescences to other drugs (Canada, 2022). In Ontario, the legal age of purchasing vaping products is 19, therefore how are youth and teens that are underage obtaining these products? In my personal inquiries from underage co-workers, many state that they have a good relationship with the convenience store clerk that will sell them the products additionally, they have connections to older classmates or siblings that will sell them the disposable vaping devices or pods- flavoured cartridges that are placed into the device. Health Canada provided insight on youth aged 13-19 on their reasoning for vaping, the most common reasoning was curiosity, wide range of nice flavours, to fit in, looking cool, to reduce stress, and social influences (Canada, 2022). In conclusion, vaping is a social construct that formulates a desire to adhere to mainstream indulgence and curiosity. This social phenomenon combined with such and addictive substance like nicotine, highlights the importance of studying its current and long-term effects on adolescences, their health, well-being and development. References Barnes, R. (2022, April 10). 10 celebrities who vape: Stars and their setups. Versed Vaper. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://versedvaper.com/10-celebrities-who-vape/ Canada, H. (2022, January 7). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/preventing/vaping.html Canada, H. (2022, March 31). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-

303 tobacco/vaping.html?utm_campaign=hc-sc-vaping-prevention-2223&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=ggl&utm_content=ad-texten&utm_term=e+cigarette+information&adv=2223332652&id_campaign=18708742530&id_source=143204004855&id_content=630729349 083&gclid=CjwKCAjwh4ObBhAzEiwAHzZYU1ETivFNGCfjikjZkknILtvfcvTBtPHo4F RaqpDDkypjlmAdEcAB4BoCvisQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#a1 Choucair, B. (2022, September 13). e-cigarette. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/e-cigarette

304

Vaping Vanessa LaMonaca Vapes are devices used to inhale liquified nicotine in a discrete way with no smoke taste or smell associated with their use. Vaping is an incredibly common word and practice among adolescents, particularly high schoolers (Martinelli, 2022). The devices weren’t originally meant for high school adolescents to get a hold of, as they were created as a “healthier” alternative to smoking and a tool for adults to use to try and kick the habit (Leone, 2018). However, vapes are now being marketed towards youth with their alluring and wide selection of flavours, from mint to fruity pebbles cereal. Youth are justifying the practice due to the alleged perks to vaping – it’s “better” than smoking cigarettes, the pods look sleek and technologically appealing, they can be used secretly indoors, there is no bad taste or smell (the opposite due to infused flavours), it’s easy to charge with any USB port, and there is little to no FDA regulation making them easy to acquire (Leone, 2018; Less et al., 2021; Thomas, 2020). Due to these justifications, vaping has become a widespread and normalized practice among adolescents, making it a part of the modern teenage experience (Thomas, 2020). The devices have become a status symbol among teenagers. Their use is now a social activity, and when teens want to appear cool to their friends they will partake in vaping around them. Less et al., (2021) reported that the perceived normalization of vaping is the main reason youth take up the activity, stating that many teenagers want to be seen as cool and popular by their peers. More alarmingly however, adolescents tend to ignore or not acknowledge the associated risks of vaping (Martinelli, 2022). Due to the lack of smoke odour and various flavours, teenagers don’t associate the harms of nicotine or cigarettes with vapes, despite one vape cartridge having roughly the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes (Leone, 2018). Vaping is associated with an increased heart rate, inflamed lungs, and altered brain development.

305 It can affect a teenager’s memory, concertation, personality, and emotional regulation, and can even poison teenagers due to the high concertation of liquified nicotine in vapes (Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, 2021). Vaping has also caused collapsed lungs and mouth sores (Less et al., 2021). Even so, youth still ignore the dangers of vaping in pursuit of popularity or “coolness” (Martinelli, 2020). This is disconcerting when considering the impact vapes have on adolescents and their health. It is obvious adolescents will prioritize anything that will appear cool to their friends and fit in, harming themselves in the process. This is why I wanted to approach my keyword infographic in a satirical manner. I wanted to illustrate the rationale behind adolescents’ thought processes when using vapes, despite the harm they cause to their health. Adolescents are able to improve their social status by ignoring their health or the concerns over vaping. Realizing what is causing adolescents to vape and their perception of the devices as safe, cool, and undetectable is fueling their widespread use. Understanding and addressing these misconceptions would be the first step in moving adolescents away from vapes and their dangers and promoting healthy practices in youth. References Leone, S. (2018, October 24). “Question of the week: Why is vaping so popular with teens? Daily American. https://www.dailyamerican.com/story/entertainment/2018/10/24/question-of-the-weekwhy-is-vaping-so-popular-with-teens/116174168/ Less, E.L., Mady, M., Beckman, K. J., & Kingsbury, J. H. (2021). “If Someone Has It, I’m Gonna Hit It”: Lessons Learned From Minnesota Teens About Vaping. Health Promotion Practice, 15248399211045353–15248399211045353. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399211045353

306 Martinelli, K. (2022, October 20). Teen Vaping: What you need to know. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/teen-vaping-what-you-need-to-know/ Thomas, J. (2020, April 24). Why do so many teens vape? Rally. https://www.rallyhealth.com/quit-smoking/why-do-so-many-teens-vape# Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. (2021, December 13). What effects does vaping have on health? https://www.wechu.org/substance-use-harm-reduction-vaping/what-effects-doesvaping-have-health

307

Wexford Branden Carrier The word “Wexford” typically refers to a location in Ireland, however, in this instance it refers to a highschool in the east end of the city of Toronto called, Wexford Collegiate School For The Arts. This word is applicable to youth as a concept, a concept of what a school can be for its students. In this case the school is a safe haven for those that often feel like pariahs amongst the ever present stereotypical adolescents. Patrick Osborne, in the article, Social Bonding as Salvation in Glee, refers to the glee club as a safe haven for those who are often ostracised due to difference (111-12). Weirdly enough Wexford was sometimes referred to as the “real life Glee”. During my time (2008-12) there were so many different aspects of adolescence represented within the school. The school served an amazing function for the attending adolescents mental health and well being. Some students came into the school as transfers who were being bullied at their prior highschool and had been transferred to Wexford for mental health reasons. To elaborate as well during the time I attended the school I cannot remember a single instance of bullying within the school, a fairly large drug problem though also existed so the school was not without its faults. The school also had an abnormally large number of LGBTQ members within its roster of students; and being in Scarborough it was also diverse in race. In fact some students even at that time were openly trans and were accepted by the students and faculty. Non-hetero relationships were incredibly common within the school, the student body was made up predominantly of open minded individuals and many outside of stereotypical norms themselves. By the school being this way it provided a safe community in which adolescents could be themselves without fear of rejection, aggression or repercussions. The mental health within the school seemed quite high probably because the student body was not hiding personal or sexual aspects of themselves. As Osborne discusses in the article the use of clubs to build a sense of community and belonging for adolescents who are different from the stereotypical expectations can find relief in clubs, and the community that comes with them. Wexford had these in abundance as well, whether it was niche common interests or something as vague as the ‘Gay Straight Alliance’. The club was an all encompassing club that accepted all members of the school at any time regardless of anything about them. The club served as a smaller community within the school that did all kinds of things from group trips to places like the ROM, art galleries, sporting events or movies. It also had a standard meet up everyday at the school providing a place to go during the lunch hour and watch movies or play board games. As a concept the idea of this school could represent a haven for adolescents and perhaps serve as a blueprint for creating an accepting school community for those who do not always conform to the stereotypical societal standards. Works Cited and other links Osborne, Patrick. “Finding ‘Glee’ in a High School Hell: Social Bonding as Salvation for the Adolescent Pariah.” Studies in Popular Culture, vol. 37, no. 1, 2014, pp. 111–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24332703. Accessed 5 Nov. 2022 Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts (wexfordcsa.ca).

308

Wired Arianna Hatzis ‘Wired’ is a word with various meanings and definitions, the word's meaning has been taken by teens and given a transformation but using its initial meaning. When adolescents now reference ‘wired’ they are at times referencing how one might be overstimulated or hyperactive. ‘Wired’ helps the understanding of adolescent experiences in many ways. The official definition of ‘wired’ is to receive something via the internet, it is a swift and quick way to receive something. The fact it happens quickly could correlate to how adolescents connected the two words' definitions. By referencing someone who is ‘wired’ they could be referencing the hyperactiveness in the quickness that wiring allows. Adolescents referencing ‘wired’ in their conversations at times can be used for them to understand others' actions. A person with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder oftentimes will be referenced as ‘wired’. They are unable to sit still, always moving and constantly jittering around making adolescents call them ‘wired.’ Those who do use this term might at times imply it with a negative connotation. When talking to someone who might be experiencing extreme amounts of overstimulation and hyperactivity adolescents may refer to their behavior negatively and tell them to relax. Adolescents using ‘wired’ in a negative connotation now can have a negative and shameful reaction for those to whom the word is being directed. ‘Wired’ references behavior that they are unable to control such as aggressive shaking of limbs, tapping, or other energy-expressive ways. It may be understood that it could cause stress to someone who is called wired as they are trying to hide their over-stimulation or hyperactivity then leading to anxiety and other mental barriers. ‘Wired’ is extremely important in understanding the study of adolescent health; it allows researchers to see the connection in how children are manipulating definitions. ‘Wired’s’ definition of manipulation, while initially most likely meant to describe someone who is overanxious, overstimulated, and hyperactive has taken a direction change. Many times its reference is meant to send someone a message in a negative way. Adolescents use this term to ensure that those who are different know they are different. Adolescents that suffer from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are often told they have brains that are wired differently. Understanding that they are different, the phrase is taken and thrown in their faces to reinforce they are considered clinically different. Overall, understanding that when someone is ‘wired’ they are most likely overthinking and experiencing some form of stress, anxiety and hyperactivity causing them to do swift actions to express their emotions. ‘Wired’ helps the understanding of adolescent development as the definition pushes young people to define people in specific lights and give their actions definitions. Informal: Sources for more information: “Wired | meaning of Wired” by Definition of the Words https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLou2YHs0l8

309 Formal: Konrad, Kerstin, and Simon B. Eickhoff. “Is the ADHD Brain Wired Differently? A Review on Structural and Functional Connectivity in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” Human brain mapping 31.6 (2010): 904–916. Web. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.21058

310

Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve Ayah Eweis The keyword I chose that represents the study of adolescence and health is “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”. This “sentence” is Taylor Swift’s new song that was released on October 21st, 2022. I chose this title as my keyword because it has a main theme that I feel perfectly represents a big part of adolescents’ years, heartbreak. Taylor Swift focused on her heartbreak she experienced 13 years ago that changed her. When she was nineteen, she dated a singer/songwriter, John Mayer, who was 13 years older than her. She takes us through her heartbreak and mentions how if she knew it would turn out the way it did, she would have never engaged with him. She mentions feelings of an overwhelming sadness, grief, and shock that stays with a person for life. The word “heartbreak” was discovered in the late 1500s (Harper, 2015). If we look at the history behind the world heartbreak, the word Heart can represent the soul, will, desire, courage, mind and/or spirit (Harper, 2015). Heartbreak can change you; sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. In Swift’s case, it was for the better. However, she’s still not over the traumatic heartbreak; she just learned to live with it – which is usually the case for most people. Hormonally, heartbreak leads to a dramatic decrease in dopamine levels which causes depression and withdrawal from life. As a young person tries to navigate their life and create their identity, social relationships are crucial and central to identity development (Kansky, 2019). Failed relationships that lead to heartbreak, most times, have a negative effect on teenagers that can later bleed into their young adulthood’s relationship building – which is shown in Taylor’s adult years as she tries to navigate romantic relationships but fails because of her past trauma (Kansky, 2019). The trauma, confusion, and broken self esteem that follows a heartbreak can

311 help us as educators understand the lack of drive, ambition, and confidence that can be presented within young adolescence’s behaviour towards school, responsibilities, and participating in life. Heartbreak is related to a young person’s health and well-being because when you’re at the stage of development, you are fragile and ill equipped to handle an overwhelming sense of rejection, sadness, and grief. And in this fragile state, heartbreaks can taint you, change you permanently and change your development. Some adolescence handle heartbreak better than others, but other young people carry that pain with them for years and into other relationships that end up failing because of the teenage baggage they brought into their young adult life (again, shown in Taylor Swift’s love life). Most adults don’t take a young person’s feelings seriously when it comes to love, betrayal, and sadness because in the adult’s mind, “they haven’t experienced life yet”. But that is simply not true. Adolescence feelings are just as valid as adult’s feeling, if not more because those experiences they face ends up shaping them and their point of view on life later on. Without the proper care, adolescence can go through their 20s and maybe even 30s still dealing with the unresolved heartbreak, betrayal, and sadness they experienced when they were in their teen years. This unresolved trauma and grooming that Swift experienced is still talked about despite her being 32. This is shown when she mentions how she regrets her ex and she “fights with him in her sleep” (Swift, 2:27), proving she is still affected by this 13 years later. As educators, we must validate those feelings and help young people get the help they need to heal from their wounded hearts and traumatic situations. By validating their feelings, we are helping them gain clarity on their current situation and helping them slowly gain back the confidence to keep pushing. I am not sure if Taylor had a supporting adult to help her navigate

312 her heartbreak at 19, but maybe if she did, she wouldn’t still be heartbroken by the disrespect she experienced so young. Helping adolescence through a breakup can save their lives, their grades, their future, their wellbeing, and their sanity. Heartbreak is inevitable in life, but for the most part, it builds character. But it’s the people around you that make it bearable to live through. Below I linked an academic article by Allen Kansky. His article speaks about heartbreak and how it can positively and/ or negatively impact adolescence lives in the future. My nonacademic source is the song “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” by Taylor Swift. References: Harper, D. (2015, May 15). Heartbreak (n.). Etymology. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/heartbreak Kansky, Allen, J. P., & Diener, E. (2019). The young adult love lives of happy teenagers: The role of adolescent affect in adult romantic relationship functioning. Journal of Research in Personality, 80, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2019.03.006 Swift, Taylor. (October 21st, 2022). Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve [Taylor Swift]. Midnights

313

Zesty Abigail Mceyeson No, it does not have much to do with lemon zest unless you imagine the peel being sassy as it sprays its mist on your dish of choice. The meaning of the word Zesty can be defined as the calling out or labelling of a person or action as too feminine or “gay” when it is performed by heterosexual, male-presenting individuals. The actions or performances are typically enacted by straight, tough or manly-looking individuals who imitate stereotypical mannerisms of women or gay men in a comical manner. The performer usually dresses or presents themselves within the stereotypical frameworks of masculinity to contrast their impersonation and ensure the audience understands that the actions are a charade or gimmick. If the individual’s performance too accurately portrays the mannerisms of women or homosexual men, the audience may shift from seeing the enactment as humorous or entertaining to unpleasant or too “gay” to engage with. The word Zesty can be used as an adjective to describe a person or as a verb to describe an action. In some cases, the enactment of being Zesty is intentional and entertaining. In other cases like the example below, the audience, listeners, fans, or the internet label a person or their actions as Zesty, contrary to the original intentions of the performer. My first encounter with the word Zesty was on November 8th when I redownloaded Tiktok after not having it for two months. I originally went back on it to find a funny video I wanted to show my friends. When I realized how challenging it was to find old trends or trending videos, I gave up and ended up scrolling through the app for the next 3 hours or so. On November 4th, four days before I got back on Tiktok, Drake dropped a new album with 21 Savage whose songs were just landing on the platform. On the very first track of the album, “Rich Flex” Drake raps the lyrics “21, do your thing, 21, do your thing (21)” in a manner similar to how female rappers perform their lyrics when they encourage their partners to begin or continue rapping. The videos following the song’s release included various parodies imagining what Drake looked like when rapping these lyrics. I landed on a couple of these funny videos, mainly of guys performing a skit, playing Drake rapping these rhymes. The song presently has 64 million plays on Spotify with the Tiktok video that pokes fun at Drake’s lyrics currently having 24.9 million views. My observations of the historical form of Zesty derives from words like “fruity” which describes someone belonging to the 2SLGBTQ+ community or “sus,” short for ‘suspicious’ which describes someone who unintentionally says or does something sexual or in a homosexual manner. Both terms are usually regarded as offensive because they discreetly normalize homophobic language. The use of the word Zesty on TikTok can be traced back to 2020 but has recently resurfaced and become a trending word. Although offensive in some contexts, the term is primarily permitted among groups of straight men who succumb to the effects of toxic masculinity and must recite words like “no homo” or “pause” when something is said or done that refers to the activities 2SLGBTQ+ peoples engage in. When used comically like to question and satirize Drake's lyrics, the term goes unnoticed. When over-used by hypermasculine, heterosexual boys or men to describe everyday actions like giving attitude or wearing tight pants, the term can harm the health and well-being of individuals who identify with the 2SLGBTQ+ community. This word is meaningful in studying adolescence and health because it reveals that although words like Zesty appear innocent and comical, they discreetly perpetuate and normalize homophobic language and toxic masculinity. Using the word as a replacement for slurs toward the 2SLGBTQ+ community should not be okay, but there is still an obscure line between using Zesty humorously or with contempt.

314 Academic Source: The Urban Dictionary on the word Zesty https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=zesty Non-academic Sources: Rich Flex by Drake & 21 Savage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4DjHHVHWAE TikTok Original Video: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleykeno17/video/7162136113656679686?is_from_webapp=1&sen der_device=pc&web_id=7162772313124963846 TikTok Video 2: https://www.tiktok.com/@willadz/video/7162406132990905605?is_from_webapp=1&sender_de vice=pc&web_id=7162772313124963846 TikTok Video 3: https://www.tiktok.com/@nonoycisco/video/7149813892187688193?is_from_webapp=1&sende r_device=pc&web_id=7162772313124963846 Zesty Dance Examples: ➔ https://www.tiktok.com/@sharky/video/7162314514329898246?is_from_webapp=1&sen der_device=pc&web_id=7162772313124963846 ➔ https://www.tiktok.com/@nonoycisco/video/7154343786695396610?is_from_webapp=1 &sender_device=pc&web_id=7162772313124963846