How far would you go to be part of the in crowd?
For most people, being a teenager is perhaps the most exciting stage in life. But being a teenager is full of ups and downs. A teenage girl is mostly bombarded by images of how Hollywood defines beauty. Billboard and magazine advertisements, t.v. and radio commercials, and even the Internet is saturated with images and messages of what is in and what is hot. These media-driven images and messages play a major role in shaping the identity of young people.
For this reason, social and relationship issues often take center stage in a typical teenager’s life. The need for a sense of belongingness drives many teenagers to remake themselves according to the standards set by media and their peer groups. To be accepted by one’s peers is a normal teenager goal that can even sometimes overshadow the need to have a good academic performance. Many also take it to a higher level and aspire for a certain degree of popularity. For teenage boys, being part of the varsity team or having the most beautiful girl in school as a girlfriend is a ticket to popularity. For teenage girls, being the girlfriend of the high...