90后新一代的十年

The 1990s: Decade of a New Generation

As we enter the 1990s, a new generation is appearing on the horizon –and the whole world is taking notice.

A Newsweek Special Edition declares: “The New Teens” and attempts to answer these questions: “What makes them different? Who are their heroes? What problems do they face?”

Life in the 1990s has become stressful to young people. As the percentage of the teenage population decreases relative to the adult world, the numbers of teenage pregnancies continue to rise; there are a growing number of minorities living at the poverty level; and there are a growing number of single parent households.

The most serious cause for concern, however, is the rise of suicide. The rate of 18 suicides per 100,000 teens in 1987, places this problem at an epidemic proportion. Social scientists, therefore, are studying teenagers more closely than ever in order to trace the problem to the source.

The pressure to succeed seems to be at the root of all of these problems. Pressure at a younger age to find a job, to choose a career, to do well at school, to have a good marriage and family life, to pay for college, and the fear of contracting AIDS are all concerns that plague the minds of young people.