I know this is an ancient anxiety
Historically it isn’t even that much of an anxiety. I know orientalists like to point out these age gaps when they’re trying to be racist/colonial/islamophobic, but even in the west this wasn’t that big of a deal until recently. I’m not sure what caused the sudden switch. Maybe a historian here can answer?
Other languages lack the entire idea of “teenager” as their numbers from 13 to 19 lack the suffix “teen”.
They’re just seen as children. The whole “rebellious phase” thing is 100% cultural. Teens in other countries are respectful of their elders and eager to learn their culture so they can pass it on to their children when they have them.
I’d situate panics about The Kids broadly in the breakdown of Patriarchy via capitalism and progressive resistance but goddamn that’s a colossal topic
but to demonstrate it one need only compare right-wing focus & outrage between child abuse coming from traditional patriarchal hierarchies (church and family heads) versus their outrage toward [right-wing boogeyman du jour]
