You Were Right and Your Parents Were Wrong:
Why High School Social Life Really Does Matter
in the Future
Dr. Robert Crosnoe
Department of Sociology & Population Research Center
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
The Importance of Being “Real”
 Not really. I…what I believe in is just be who you are. And I don’t
really…like so many teens are affected by peer pressure and they
give into it and whatever. I don’t… I just don’t feel that I should I be
somebody else that other’s want me to be. I just like to be who I am
and if nobody likes it, then oh well. (Sylvia, Latina 10th grader)
 I haven’t really felt that way because I do…I always be myself. I
don’t try and be anyone else…it is like it doesn’t really matter,
because then you won’t be happy if you try and be someone else.
(Wes, White 9th grader)
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
The Two Sides of High School
 Formal Processes and Informal Processes
• Oh, people I meet, definitely (are the most important thing about
school)…The school is just a big building with lots of people in it
(Joshua, White 9th grader)
• But it was a picture of Friday after school after the bell rang and
just down that long hallway that leads to the theatre. It’s just
always packed with people. I think that’s kind of -- like, that’s just
it…It’s just one big thing. That’s what kids kind of have to do.
They have to be able to flow to everyone. (Christian, White 9th
grader)
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
The Two Sides of High School
Peer Culture of
High School
Academic
Progress
Personal/Interpersonal
Development
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
From Timeless to Timely
 Dramatic Changes in the U.S. Demography, School
Organization, Information Technology, and Economic
Structure Have Intensified the Consequences of the Social
Side of Schooling for How Teenagers’ Lives Turn Out
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
The Larger Context
 Demography of Teen Population
Number of High School Students (In Thousands)
19,000
17,000
15,000
13,000
11,000
9,000
Number of High School Students (In
Thousands)
7,000
5,000
1955
1965
1975
1985
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
1995
2005
The Larger Context
 Reorganization of American Education
9th
10th
11th Out
Biology
Science Topics
Chemistry
Out
12th
Adv. Science
Out
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Physics
The Larger Context
 Explosion of Information Technology
facebook helps you connect and share with
the people in your life.
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
The Larger Context
Earnings Premium of Bacherlor's Degree (in Percentage)
 Restructuring of Global Economy
80
Men
Women
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1975
1985
1995
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
2005
Lower Odds of College Enrollment (Relative to Non-Obese Girls)
Lower Odds of College-Going Associated with
Girls’ Obesity
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
All Schools
Low-Body Size High Schools High-Body Size High Schools
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
The Final Picture
Membership in
Stigmatized Group:
Obesity &
Same-Sex Attraction
Identity
Discrepancies:
Actual/Ought &
Spoiling
Information Processing:
Social Feedback & Social
Comparison
Perceived Social
Marginalization:
Feelings of Not
Fitting In
Counterproductive
Coping Mechanisms:
Depression
Marijuana Use
Truancy
Lower Odds of
College-Going
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Fewer Valued Courses
& Grades
Life Course Outcomes
Other Examples
 The Timing of Puberty
 Drinking and School Context
 Physical Attractiveness, Activities, and Grades
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Take Home Points
 The Futility of Separation
 Short Term Protections vs. Long Term Risks
 Policy Implications
•
•
•
•
•
NCLB disaggregation
Health services
Extracurriculum
Redefining arts curriculum
No bad choices
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin
How did you get here?
How did you not get where you are not?
Population Research Center
The University of Texas at Austin