Teenage Wasteland

Donna Gaines is a journalist, cultural sociologist; New York State certified social worker and an international expert on youth violence and culture. Gaines also has taught sociology at Barnard College of Columbia University and at the graduate faculty of New School University. In the article “Teenage Wasteland” Gaines examines the causes of teenage suicide using both the history and the biography of suburban teens. She mentioned that when a teenager commits suicide it is a personal tragedy, but when groups of teens form a suicide pact and successfully carry it out, it becomes a matter of public concern. In the book “experience sociology” chapter three they talk about culture and that can relate to this article because in my opinion culture is what makes us who we are, we  believe in something or somebody because of culture who we followed is also related to culture. Most cases of teen’s suicide are bullying, abuse or even you family issues can be a reason. As I was reading the article I found something very important, the techniques Gaines uses to investigate, she was not only interested on finding why teens commit suicide but she also went deep, meeting with teens to find out who they really are; their thoughts, feelings, and the weak side of them. Gaines also said that back in the 80's high schools were divided by the Jocks, Preps, nerds, cheerleaders etc depending on where you live. That wasn’t only in the 80’s we still have this types of division in high schools like Hispanic hand out with their people, backs, Chinese, Indians etc. Everyone with their group, taking it back to when I was in high school it was like that too, but I think this is because when you are a teen you think “Well they coming form the same place as I did so we might have a lot in common, we will agree all the time etc”. There are so many reasons why teenagers commit suicide, most of these reasons are unknown but teenage suicide is increasing and I ask myself why are they doing it? Is it because they are afraid of something or, they can’t take it anymore? I ask myself the same question every time I see this on the news. My mother always tells me to be myself everywhere I go and to always have in mind that there’s always a limit where you have to stop and say “no I am doing this wrong, I am not going to do this, I don’t want” in other words to have my own personality and not change my mind about something just because my friend doesn’t like it. My point you have to love yourself everyday more don’t let anyone trample you, because when you don’t love yourself your personality becomes the public’s opinion about you. From there you star to get depressed and to think that nobody understand you, feel so down until you get to the point of killing yourself or find a bad company. (Teenage Suicide needs to stop; a lot of teens need more family support).