IAHRW International Journal of Social Sciences Review

Ravneet Chawla ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Human Development and Family Relations, Government Home Science College, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

Adolescents exhibit peculiar developmental aspects, especially those living in peculiar and vulnerable circumstances owed by disturbances in family relationships. The objective of the study was to focus on six adolescent girls, three from urban well-to-do families, and the other three from the peripheral slum area in Chandigarh living in such families; three marginalized families with poor inter-parental relationship and two with similar poor relationships and one with absence (loss) of father . To understand the impact of such challenging dynamics of family including relationships dyads between parents, between siblings and parent child relationships were also observed. Four week observation was done in phase one, both at home and at the NGO set up in the cases of slum inhabitants. Phase two was conducted for two weeks again with one week space. Interviews were conducted with the significant others, usually mothers. Behavior observation was also a major tool employed. Cases belonging to the poverty stricken slum dwellings had issues like little to no education, meager parental supervision and exposure to erotic or unrestricted media that contributed to gullible dispositions. They were found resilient but had exposures to beetle eating, inhaling hookah; they were earning through menial domestic works. They disregarded alcoholic and indifferent fathers and seemed vulnerable to the drug and early sex practices among peers. Among the cases belonging to the affluent class, issues like family dynamics, exposure to media and falling prey to the wrong company of friends were the causes of vulnerability. They were found indifferent and repulsive to figures of authority including school and indulging in multiple relationships with the opposite sex. Early sexual experiments are of a concern in context of unprotected multiple sexual relationships and mental well being (guilt, rejection etc). The study indicates parenting challenges of the present adolescents and leaves a question on the worthiness of over engaged parents also.

Keywords

Vulnerability of Adolescents, Early Sexual Experiments, Drugs And Beetle Chewing, Family Dynamics.

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Ravneet Chawla ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Human Development & Family Relations, Government Home Science College, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

In the last decade there has been an increasing interest in the level of stress, trauma, or violence experienced by humanitarian workers, but relatively little focus on the other side of the coin qualities that promote resilience and thriving in these challenging environments .The notion that family environment and school plays a buffering role in protecting child from brunt of life stress has powerful implications for course of action and healthy development. Case study approach was used on three adolescents from marginalized families of Chandigarh living in poor outer edge; each one had only one room for the entire family and the neighborhood was crowded with similar living units. Rapport building was done, interviews were held with the subjects and meeting at which information about subject was gathered by researchers from their parents and siblings. A meeting was arranged at which information about subject was gathered from his teachers and martial art instructor, which also included observations of subjects in regular class setup for two weeks. The conclusions drawn were that the at-risk factors identified as per perceived by the subjects were role models (fathers) indulging in alcohol and smoking, habit of stealing, aggression and violence. Mothers in all the three cases were greater source of comfort than fathers. Fathers' absenteeism for long hours at work was disliked. The observations of the researcher harmonized with the inputs from the teachers, neighborhood. Attending charity school acted as a major buffer; they could not afford it otherwise. A huge onus lied on the scope for improving home environment of such children and working on dynamics within the family.

Keywords

Family, Adolescents, Poverty, At Risk, Social Problems.

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