Bad advice for teens: a look back

For anyone who believes teenagers have it harder now then they did back then, refer to the above book. Published in 1986, the illustrated guide to coming just short of hospitalization, (and staying that way!) was really helpful if you wanted a long-term plan for your anorexia decision. Author Bonnie Lukes isn't a doctor, just she is a self-proclaimed "ex-fatty" who's learned to stay trim without much exercise. The find was dredged up on BuzzFeed today to show just how different things were back then, especially for teens. Here are some more examples.



This illustrated guide has an interesting title and a confusing cover. Clearly, masturbation is going to get some air-time. And illustration. But how on earth are they instructing kids to do it? A naked kid looking at porn. Okaaay. A hand, sure. But a foot? And why is he holding his stomach and climbing a tree half naked?
I don't know about you but I'm never masturbating again.

My teen is pregnant. I wish Dee Snider was here. He always knows what to say. That was idea behind this 1987 self-help book for teens by the Twisted Sister frontman. Here's the synopsis: "Gives advice to teenagers on a variety of topics including friendship, self-esteem, parents, sex, pregnancy, and abortion." [if anyone owns a copy of this book, it is your civic duty to transcribe it so we can read the advice, please]


From '86-'87 came an onslaught of AIDS education books that mostly served to create panic, paranoia, self-loathing and an understanding that no matter what you do ever, you're probably going to get AIDS and it's your fault, teenage jerk. This " "true" story(as true as Go Ask Alice, folks) follows a fourteen-year-old girl who meets an 18-year-old guy. He's described as "a gentle, caring young man who appears to be the answer to her dreams--until he rapes her, leaving her HIV-infected." Moral: don't love things, slut.


Now I'm all for child therapy and pro-active treatment, but there was a time when parents didn't know how to talk to their kids about getting help. So they used a sad dog and brainy pelican. "Ignatius is a little too "hugnacious" - in fact, he's been getting into a lot of trouble lately and even his friends are avoiding him. Finally, he pays a visit to Dr Pelican, who teaches him new ways to handle problems," according to the synopsis on Amazon. Hugnacious? Really?

But before you get all excited about how far we've come in understanding and communicating with children, consider this gem published in 2002.


Here's an excerpt from the authors, Linda and Joseph Nicolosi that will permanently damage any teenager struggling with his or her sexuality:

"What parents can do to make a homosexual outcome unlikely is to lay the best possible foundation for their child's secure gender identity. We also believe there is evidence of a "disability" in the homosexually-oriented person's feeling of not being comfortable with members of their own sex, of feeling "different" and inadequate, and of course, in not being able to function according to their biologically mandated sexual design...Furthermore, the gay world is very destructive to our communal understanding of healthy gender identity and gender roles, to the stability of the traditional family, and to our integrity as persons who are designed to live in accordance with our created natures."

So there you have it. Even today, many parents still just don't understand. Neither do authors.