The Scapegoat Generation: America's War on Adolescents [Paperback]

Mike A Males (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

Violence. Drugs. Pregnancy. Suicide. Are our nation's teenagers out of control? Mike Males provides a different picture--how politicians, private interests, and the media unfairly scapegoat adolescents for America's problems. Among the myths he explodes:

Myth: Drugs, guns, gangsta rap, TV violence and "innate" youth savagery are causing crime and mayhem.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Males is a doctoral candidate in social ecology at the University of California, Irvine. He serves on the California Wellness Foundation Adolescent Health Advisory Board, and has written extensively on youth and social issues in publications such as The New York Times, The Lancet, Phi Delta Kappan and In These Times. His most recent book is "Framing Youth: Ten Myths About the Next Generation."

Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Common Courage Press (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567510809
• ISBN-13: 978-1567510805
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,288,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd give this book ten stars if I could, June 11, 1999

By 

"dkirtley" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scapegoat Generation: America's War on Adolescents (Paperback)

This is possibly the most important book I've ever read. It clearly demonstrates the ways in which cynical politicians and a sensationalist media have consistently misrepresented teens and robbed them of their rights. Even my grandmother was outraged after reading this book. It should be required reading for every American. You have to read this book!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is everything you know about teenagers wrong?, March 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Scapegoat Generation: America's War on Adolescents (Paperback)

First, a nod to the two bad reviews: Males is, in fact, an incorrigible numbers wonk. Although I don't think his stats are dishonest, I do think he uses them, perhaps selectively, to support his important thesis, which I read as follows: Adults perceive teenagers negatively and this is due to the familiar sociological phenomenon of "scapegoating." WE screw up and look for someone to pin it on. I think Males is largely convincing in demonstrating that most of the familiar litany of "what's wrong with these kids today" is either (1) false (2) no worse or not as bad as the equivalent "problem" in adults or (3) caused by adult oppression of teenagers. It's a challenging and important book. Even if you buy only some of what Males argues, it may well change your view of teenagers forever.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here's evidence today's teens are not so bad, June 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Scapegoat Generation: America's War on Adolescents (Paperback)

Males argues convincingly that a lot of what we think we know about "out-of-control" adolescents is just teen bashing. He examines subjects such as drug, alcohol, tobacco use; teen pregnancy, poverty, violence, mental illness, etc. He offers lots of evidence, statistics, great notes and sources, to support his thesis. A real paradigm shift! I used this book in a freshman composition class, and the students (same age as the kids Males is talking about) were amazed and excited by it. Sometimes a bit slow going, as Males has lots of charts and graphs and extensive footnotes. Well worth it. A must read for anyone who works with teenagers.