Author Description
Sex Is Bad. Unprotected Sex Is A Problem. Having A Baby Would Be A Disaster. Abortion Is A Sin. Teenagers In The United States Hear Conflicting Messages About Sex From Everyone Around Them. How Do Teens Understand These Messages? In Mixed Messages, Stefanie Mollborn Examines How Social Norms And Social Control Work Through In-depth Interviews With College Students And Teen Mothers And Fathers, Revealing The Tough Conversations Teeangers Just Can't Have With Adults. Delving Into Teenagers' Complicated Social Worlds Mollborn Argues That By Creating Informal Social Sanctions Like Gossip And Exclusion And Formal Communication Such As Sex Education, Families, Peers, Schools, And Communities Strategize To Gain Control Over Teens' Behaviors. However, While Teens Strategize To Keep Control, They Resist The Constraints Of The Norms, Revealing The Variety Of Outcomes That Occur Beyond Compliance Or Deviance. By Showing That The Norms Existing Today Around Teen Sex Are Ineffective, Failing To Regulate Sexual Behavior, And Instead Punishing Teens That Violate Them, Mollborn Calls For A More Thoughtful And Consistent Dialogue Between Teens And Adults, Emphasizing Messages That Will Lead To More Positive Health Outcomes.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates how conflicting social norms and control mechanisms influence the sexual behaviors and decision-making processes of teenagers in the United States. Stefanie Mollborn, a sociologist specializing in adolescent health and social norms, utilizes qualitative data to analyze the disconnect between adult-imposed expectations and the lived realities of youth. The work argues that current regulatory strategies—ranging from formal sex education to informal social sanctions—are largely ineffective and often counterproductive, necessitating a shift toward more consistent and constructive intergenerational dialogue.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Qualitative analysis of social norms regarding teen sexuality
- Examination of formal and informal social control mechanisms
- In-depth interview data from college students, teen mothers, and teen fathers
- Theoretical framework on adolescent resistance and strategic behavior
Scope Limits
- The study focuses primarily on the social and cultural landscape of the United States
- The research does not provide a comprehensive clinical guide for sexual health education
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts in sociology and adolescent development frequently cite this work for its nuanced look at the social pressures surrounding teen sexual health. Readers often note that the prose is accessible while maintaining the academic rigor expected of a sociological study.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
2017-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190633298
ISBN-13:
9780190633295
Family Studies
Social Science
Education
Sociology