Amish teens have been taught to focus on their community rather than themselves. They are rewarded with praise for the completion of hard tasks or jobs to serve the community. Free from the individualistic culture of mainstream society, they do not have to worry about “fitting in” by having the most fashionable clothing or material things. They don’t have the same social pressures that many mainstream teens have such as the media, which can influence the way that teens view their bodies and behaviors. The Amish are expected to decide whether or not they want to continue their Amish membership in their teens. They go through a time period called, Rumspringa, which allows the teens to try things that they haven’t had the chance to try before because of their culture. After the end of this period, they decide whether or not they would like to continue their Amish membership. If so, they are required to get baptized officially into the Amish community. If not, they are free to leave the Amish community and venture off on their own.
Amish teenagers are shielded from the negative media, social expectations, and society rules that mainstream teenagers are subjected to. Because of this, Amish teens have high self-esteem. However, mainstream teenagers tend to need self-esteem boosts from all of the negative feedback they hear in society. Amish teens also have the opportunity to explore mainstream society during Rumspringa. They are able to dress like mainstream teens, buy the same items, and even drive around in automobiles. However, because of their background, many of them turn this freedom down to return to their Amish roots. They were raised in a culture that values community. They tend to want to contribute to their communities, families, and friends. This is one of the reasons why many Amish teens tend to return to their Amish communities after a period of relative freedom.
Bibliography
Stevick, Richard A.
2007. Growing Up Amish. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore.
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I think it is so important with your topic of the Amish community to keep in mind cultural relevance. For us to try to imagine life without our cell phones, computers, television, etc., it seems so weird! For the Amish, in comparison, they are so used to it. During summer camp when I was younger, we were banned from using any kind of technology for two weeks. It was such a nice release from the outside world. You did not have to worry about keeping up with a television show or if you had a missed call. Although for some this may seem scary, I loved every moment of it, I really felt more connected to my fellow campers and more enthused to participate in the camp activities. We were formed sort of like our own family in the woods, and it was such a good break from the hustle and bustle of everyday society.
ReplyDeleteJust like summer camp, the Amish people rely on this sense of community to bring them together and work together through a stable system. I think it is amazing that these people can sustain themselves on such a little amount of material goods. For one, they are great example of sustainability and have much more environmental awareness that many of us do. Despite all of this, they do keep the options open for their teenagers. This way, they can get to experience both worlds- and be given a chance to choose which is the better of the two.