| I recently read an article that stated that self | | | | Here is a quote from the article that I kind of |
| esteem among teenagers had gotten too high. | | | | agree with: |
| Here is the final quote from the article: | | | | "Twenge and other researchers believe that the |
| "Despite the popular beliefs, the vast majority of | | | | decades of efforts to boost self-esteem may |
| teens are quite satisfied with their bodies, | | | | have created unrealistic expectations in today's |
| appearance, intelligence, and capabilities. Efforts to | | | | youth, and their inflated self-esteem may lead to |
| instill self-esteem may have done their job too | | | | a sense of entitlement: "I'm great, so I deserve |
| well, and like Muhammad Ali, most people feel | | | | great things." |
| pretty good about themselves - whether they | | | | Jean Twenge is an associate producer of |
| should or not." | | | | psychology at San Diego State University. I totally |
| As I have been talking to over a hundred teenage | | | | agree that there is an epidemic of entitlement |
| girls from all over the country, I feel inclined to | | | | among our youth today. From my own |
| disagree with that quote. As I have been asking | | | | observations, levels of entitlement and levels of |
| girls about the challenges that they face, body | | | | self esteem are not directly related. Believe me, |
| image is one challenge that comes up 90% of the | | | | there are loads of teens who hate who they are, |
| time. That would not support the argument that | | | | but still expect that they deserve great things. In |
| the 'vast majority of teens are satisfied with their | | | | my experience it comes from the thought that |
| bodies'. | | | | since life has handed them unhappiness, the world |
| In my experience in working with teenage girls I | | | | owes it to them to make them happy. |
| have noticed that lack of self esteem is a major | | | | While self esteem and entitlement may be too |
| issue. I have worked with a lot of girls that put | | | | high in some teens, I believe it is still a major |
| off a lot of self confidence, but that are very self | | | | problem to be faced for those teens who do not |
| concious underneath. | | | | like themselves. |