As a noun, it means a young person who is no longer a child but not yet an adult, usually between about 12 and 18 years old. As an adjective, it describes things related to this stage of growing up.
From Latin *adolescens* meaning “growing up” or “maturing,” from *adolescere* “to grow up.” The root combines *ad-* “to” with *olescere* “to grow.”
The word ‘adolescent’ literally means someone who is in the process of growing, not someone who is already grown. That explains why this time of life feels so in-between—your body and brain are still under construction.
The concept of adolescence has been gendered in many societies, with adolescent girls often subject to stricter control, moral scrutiny, and sexualization, while adolescent boys are stereotyped as naturally rebellious or risk-taking. Research and policy have sometimes focused more on boys’ externalizing behaviors, underrecognizing girls’ experiences.
Avoid gendered stereotypes about adolescents’ behavior or interests; specify patterns with data and note differences in social expectations. Use neutral terms like "adolescent" or "young person" rather than gendered labels unless relevant.
["young person","teenager","youth"]
Girls and young women have led many youth movements and social changes, yet their leadership is often framed as exceptional or overshadowed by male peers.
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