Scapegoat Generation

by Mike A. Males

Book Overview

Presents myths and facts about social problems confronting American adolescents, offering a perspective on crime, violence, drugs, teen pregnancy, suicide, and more. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1567510809
• ISBN13: 9781567510805
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Common Courage Press
• Length: 329 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent book.

A little wordy, but very detailed.My copy of this book, like Mike Males other book "Framing Youth", is very worn out. They are like encyclopedias when it comes to youth issues in this country.Well worth the read.

A must for those working with adolescents.

Mike Males' books, The Scapegoat Generation, and Framing Youth, rank among the must-reads for any public health professional, community worker, or politician dealing with adolescents. Mike will help you see through all the myths and all the [stuff] that's out there regarding adolescents, much of it coming from what one would think are "unimpeachable" sources. If you're a health professional like me, wondering why all the "tried and true" strategies to reduce adolescent pregnancy, violence, drug use and smoking in your community are just not working, you need to read this book.

Is everything you know about teenagers wrong?

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.

I'd give this book ten stars if I could

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!

Here's evidence today's teens are not so bad

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.