Having an often times harsh look at the world, punks are usually radical thinkers who “buck” systems of authority and embrace free thought and personal expression through music. As with democrats and republicans, a group of punks can be as much right-winged as they can be left. They embrace and reject different schools of thought and therefore, have actually developed their own cultures. These types of youth cultures, attracting school age youth, consist of equally balanced genders. While hardcore punks are stereotyped as having Mohawks and wearing worn out clothes in order to portray their lowly economic status, most of the individuals who adopt this persona are actually harmless, perfectly middle class citizens who exercise their “rights” under false pretenses.
Having one believe that they are “down on their luck”, punks solicit the sympathies of others in order to further their own agendas. “Taking money, food and other tangibles, punks are only concerned with themselves and their plights”, according to some critics. Could this not be said about any organized group of people? Most kids are really good kids, regardless of the group they hang with. It’s your job to make sure that stays the case.
Kids especially are always looking for acceptance and a feeling of belonging outside that of their own families. Depending upon their interests, their looks, their likes and dislikes, any particular group that picks up a child should have their best interest as a person at heart. Anything outside of that is detrimental to your child and will disruptive to your family. Don’t panic if your child is embraced by a group of punks; hippies, or any other group; plan instead! Don’t automatically yell and scream and remove all the pink clothing from her dresser drawers!
Everyone knows that making sure that you as a parent are involved with your child, know your child’s friends, spend time with them inside your home, and getting to know their parents, extended families and their abilities and interests within and outside of school are all ways to encourage a healthy association with others for your child. At a time when impressions are so important, and emotions run high, this is the “make it” or “break it” time between having a good or bad relationship with your child during his/her teen years. However, the way that parents REACT is even more important during this time. Hopefully up to this point, you have instilled, or tried to instill the values and beliefs that you as a family hold on to. You are on display and the teens morals will be tried and tested here so be careful not to judge too harshly, too soon or too inaccurately.
Remember, you cannot always accurately judge a book by its cover, but it is your responsibility to open it up and make your own assessment; in the interest of your child.