Puberty
and the Teen
Boys
Girls
Our Goal for you!!
- We want girls and boys to be able to have a web site to turn to when experiencing the awkwardness of adolescence.
- You will be able to see the
differences between pubertal changes in the United States and developing countries like Africa.
The
onset of puberty has much to do with the diet and nutrition of a country. Industrialized countries have the opportunity
to more nutritional food and better health care. This allows them to be healthier but also
allows the risk of becoming over weight.
A girl usually begins her period when her body fat reaches the optimal
level. In developing countries where
food is not as accessible and health care is unattainable we see thinner girls
who do not start their first period until their later teens. There is also a lot of pressure for girls in
athletics to keep their weight down leading to a later start of menstruation.
- Boys will begin puberty around the age of 15 or later. Boys generally develop a couple years later than Girls.
Cultural Responses to Puberty
It
is difficult to pinpoint any typical rituals that are practiced in the United
States to celebrate puberty. Much of
that depends on the parents and their cultural background. Parents may celebrate by taking the teen out
shopping for new clothes or a girl’s first bra.
For boys puberty is not so celebrated.
Dads may start calling them men and including them in rituals like
shaving and sports. But there is no
defining moment that a boy has to be celebrated.
Girls
In
developing cultures such as those found in Africa you find much more pride and
disgust when a girl has her first period.
Some tribes see the blood as a blessing and because the girl is now
fertile. Others see it as unclean and
they send the girls away while it takes place.
In other tribes girls are presented with gifts and displayed to show
that she is now a woman.
Boys
Although
boys do not have a defining moment making them men, tribes still have rituals
that usually require them to display courage and strength. Their rituals consist of violent acts such as
fighting and proving ones self. Other
tribes celebrate the men by large detailed tattooing.
Social Responses to Puberty
In the
Individualist
cultures tend to draw closer to their family or show no distancing effect.
Psychological Responses to Puberty
Some Facts
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Also Girls, there is this thing called PMS, all you need to know is that it makes you a little moodier sometimes before you start your period each month.
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Boys, don't be afraid to talk to another guy about what is going on in your body. This will save you a couple years of confusion.
A Quiz for the Girls:
| 1 When friends start talking about body issues you: | |
| a | Lecture them on the importance of loving their bodies |
| b | Change the subject or walk off |
| c | Reel off a list of everything that's wrong with your bod |
| 2 How often do you compare your body to other people's? | |
| a | All the time - it drives you crazy! |
| b | You don't think about your body very much |
| c | Hardly ever - you're unique, like everybody is |
| 3 To you your body is: | |
| a | A temple |
| b | A pain in the butt! |
| c | Not important |
| 4 Eating right and exercising is: | |
| a | Something you don't really think about |
| b | Essential |
| c | On your to-do list (right after tucking into pizza and watching friends) |
| 5 Whenever you pass a mirror you: | |
| a | Try not to look |
| b | Notice all of your worst faults |
| c | Think "Wwho's that hot honey? Oh yeah, it's me!" |
Girls, it is important that while your body is going through all these changes to stay healthy and active. If you answered any of these qustions not caring about your body check out the following links to help you out.
Some
helpful and fun links to better understand who you are:
http://www.sexualityandu.ca/eng/teens/
http://www.christianitytoday.com/teens/
Any Questions Email us :
Karen.r.dyksterhouse@wmich.edu