21st Century, Oppression manifests and damages teens in our modern world

Thinner by the day; Crankier than usual, she became more silent. We all noticed these things but failed to acknowledge her shattered eyes. The conspicuous change in my sister's behavior was worrisome. I wanted her to open up and share her feelings, but she was reluctant. After many futile attempts, she finally opened up, and as I presumed, the reason was her' boyfriend.' 

Like any other teenage girl, she was enjoying the early phase of being in a relationship, looking at the world through those rose-colored glasses—the constant need to maintain her relationship as a girlfriend; the possessiveness, the unspoken words, and his presence would change her so much. Day by day, she was falling into oppression, and the worst part was that she thought it was normal.  Untold stories of this kind are everywhere around us, and what we do is ignore it, assuming everything to be fine, but is it?

Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder (depression, anxiety, behavioral disorder, etc.), accounting for approximately 13% of the cases in this age group. 

By definition, oppression is a long duration of unjust or cruel treatment by authority. While a significant part of this definition is genuine, it is not always the authorities that have the power to oppress you. Many teens often find themselves tormented by peers and causing mental health issues that can impact their well-being. Always speak out or talk to some older person you trust. Speaking takes much courage but please do because that is the only solution. There are always solutions but keeping it all to yourself is not one. 

We talk about different forms of oppression but over the next few blog series, we will be diving into each topic more deeply. 

1. Oppression in Social Media

Life without social media is impossible nowadays, especially for teenagers. However, frequently social media blurs the boundaries between reality and the fake online world. Many teens are going through constant pressure to look immaculate on social media, to pretend to be something they are not. You have to look prettier, more prosperous, and everything excellent that you are often not on social media. This can profoundly impact one's mental health, and recent studies show how common this is. About two-thirds of Americans (64%) say social media have a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the country today.  It is now more critical than ever for parents and authorities to be aware teens of the fakeness of social media.  

Cyberbullying is another aspect that oppresses many teens from freely expressing themselves online. If you are getting bullied, there are many legal ways to shut it down, in addition to simple solutions like simply blocking them. One in three young people in 30 countries said they have been a victim of online bullying, with one in five reporting having skipped school due to cyberbullying and violence. 

2. Oppression by Peers

Peer pressure is one of the most common culprits behind many teenagers' deteriorating mental health. It is common to see teenagers getting trapped in the vicious circle of doing what they don't want to do only because of peer pressure; this can range from voluntary alcohol and drugs to ragging and hazing. Often there is little one can do in such circumstances, or at least what many teens think, but that is not true.

3. Oppression in Relationships

Oppression in relationships is widespread. It can occur in many forms, to come from your current partner or an ex-partner; this transcends. Some red flags to look for are substantial age gaps, a tendency to gaslight your opinions, or blackmail you into doing things you are not comfortable with. Teenage relationships can be ripe with emotional and physical abuse; sometimes, we don't realize it until too late.

4. Oppression and Identity

Your identity is an integral part of you. To be bullied for your skin color, the type of hair you have, or the smell of food can be very disheartening for any individual or language. In teenagers, this impact can be more profound. They often feel that they are not accepted, recriminated against, and faced with seclusion. Creating a mindset of inclusivity in the school environment is becoming significantly evident and creating proactive actions to ensure a safe environment for all their students.

If you are in any of such situations or dealing with a stressful life change, you don't have to be alone; we are here to support you.