Young and Restless

January 1, 1975

Now that they aren't spending all their free time working in mines and doing chores around the family farm, what are teenagers to do?

Some adults may think the answer to that is obvious: get into trouble! Drug offences are skyrocketing, and youth crime is in the news.

The sluggish economy means that jobs are hard to come by. Young people are frustrated and concerned about summer jobs.

Yet, like many generations before them, teenagers are simply trying to find their place in the world. Whereas at the turn of the century, young people took an active part in the support of their families, in 1975, they are not expected to contribute in this manner.

After the wild ride that was the 1960s youth experience, no one is sure whether today's teenagers are alienated or just plain apathetic. A generation of peace, suburban life and powerful consumerism means that they have grown up under conditions very different from those of previous generations.