"With Kinseyesque diligence [Moffatt] catalogues the sexual habits and fantasies of his students. . . . His book vibrates with quirky authenticity."... --New York Times Book Review "Useful for understanding the student experience . . . throughout the United States. . . . Beautifully written, carefully researched . . . a classic."--John Thelin, Educational Studies "Michael Moffatt is a multitalented, multidisciplinary scholar . . . who writes without a trace of gobbledygook. He deserves a wide following." --Rupert Wilkinson, Journal of American Studies "One of the most thoughtfully crafted case studies of undergraduate culture . . . ever written . . . a book every professor should read." --Paul J. Baker, Academe Coming of Age is about college as students really know it and--often--love it. To write this remarkable account, Michael Moffatt did what anthropologists usually do in more distant cultures: he lived among the natives. His findings are sometimes disturbing, potentially controversial, but somehow very believable. Coming of Age is a vivid slice of life of what Moffatt saw and heard in the dorms of a typical state university, Rutgers, in the 1980s. It is full of student voices: naive and worldy-wise, vulgar and polite, cynical, humorous, and sometimes even idealistic. But it is also about American culture more generally: individualism, friendship, community, bureaucracy, diversity, race, sex, gender, intellect, work, and play. As an example of an ethnography written about an anthropologist's own culture, this book is an uncommon one. As a new and revealing perspective on the much-studied American college student, it is unique.

Anthropologist Fran Markowitz interviewed more than one hundred Russian teenagers to discover how adolescents have been coping with their country's... seismic transitions. Her findings present a substantive challenge to near-axiomatic theories of human development that regard cultural stability as indispensable to the successful navigation of adolescence. Markowitz's fieldwork leads to the surprising conclusion that the disruptions brought by glasnost, perestroika, and the fragmentation of the USSR exerted a greater impact on Western political hopes and on many of Russia's adults than on young people's perceptions of their lives. In their remarks on topics ranging from being Russian to religion, sex, music, and military service, the teenagers convey a flexible and optimistic approach to the future and a sense of security deriving from strong family, school, and neighborhood ties. Their perspectives suggest that culture change and social instability may be seen as positive forces, allowing for expressive opportunities, the establishment of individualized identities, and creative, pragmatic planning.

Rarely do science and literature come together in the same book.  When they do -- as in Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, for example -- they... become classics, quoted and studied by scholars and the general public alike.Margaret Mead accomplished this remarkable feat not once but several times, beginning with Coming of Age in Samoa.   It details her historic journey to American Samoa, taken where she was just twenty-three, where she did her first fieldwork.  Here, for the first time, she presented to the public the idea that the individual experience of developmental stages could be shaped by cultural demands and expectations.  Adolescence, she wrote, might be more or less stormy, and sexual development more or less problematic in different cultures.  The "civilized" world, she taught us had much to learn from the "primitive."  Now this groundbreaking, beautifully written work as been reissued for the centennial of her birth, featuring introductions by Mary Pipher and by Mead's daughter, Mary Catherine Bateson.

Millions of people around the world today spend portions of their lives in online virtual worlds. Second Life is one of the largest of these virtual... worlds. The residents of Second Life create communities, buy property and build homes, go to concerts, meet in bars, attend weddings and religious services, buy and sell virtual goods and services, find friendship, fall in love--the possibilities are endless, and all encountered through a computer screen. Coming of Age in Second Life is the first book of anthropology to examine this thriving alternate universe. Tom Boellstorff conducted more than two years of fieldwork in Second Life, living among and observing its residents in exactly the same way anthropologists traditionally have done to learn about cultures and social groups in the so-called real world. He conducted his research as the avatar "Tom Bukowski," and applied the rigorous methods of anthropology to study many facets of this new frontier of human life, including issues of gender, race, sex, money, conflict and antisocial behavior, the construction of place and time, and the interplay of self and group. Coming of Age in Second Life shows how virtual worlds can change ideas about identity and society. Bringing anthropology into territory never before studied, this book demonstrates that in some ways humans have always been virtual, and that virtual worlds in all their rich complexity build upon a human capacity for culture that is as old as humanity itself.

Millions of people around the world today spend portions of their lives in online virtual worlds. Second Life is one of the largest of these virtual... worlds. The residents of Second Life create communities, buy property and build homes, go to concerts, meet in bars, attend weddings and religious services, buy and sell virtual goods and services, find friendship, fall in love--the possibilities are endless, and all encountered through a computer screen. Coming of Age in Second Life is the first book of anthropology to examine this thriving alternate universe. Tom Boellstorff conducted more than two years of fieldwork in Second Life, living among and observing its residents in exactly the same way anthropologists traditionally have done to learn about cultures and social groups in the so-called real world. He conducted his research as the avatar "Tom Bukowski," and applied the rigorous methods of anthropology to study many facets of this new frontier of human life, including issues of gender, race, sex, money, conflict and antisocial behavior, the construction of place and time, and the interplay of self and group. Coming of Age in Second Life shows how virtual worlds can change ideas about identity and society. Bringing anthropology into territory never before studied, this book demonstrates that in some ways humans have always been virtual, and that virtual worlds in all their rich complexity build upon a human capacity for culture that is as old as humanity itself.

A follow-up to the critically acclaimed and bestselling multicultural collection of stories about growing up in America—with new selections for a new... century."All of us, at some moment, have had a vision of our existence as something unique, untransferable, and very precious. This revelation almost always takes place during adolescence. Self-discovery is above all the realization that we are alone: it is the opening of an impalpable, transparent wall—that of our consciousness—between the world and ourselves."—Octavio Paz, The Labyrinth of SolitudeFollowing in the footsteps of the highly successful Coming of Age in America and Coming of Age Around the World, this new anthology of fiction and memoir explores coming of age in the new millennium.Twenty-one stories by noted authors including Sherman Alexie, Mary F. Chen, Junot Diaz, Louise Erdrich, Seth Kantner, and ZZ Packer explore the trials and tribulations of growing up in our increasingly fragmented world. Issues of identity, sexuality, solitude, and conflict are beautifully presented through the voices of writers of all ages and ethnicities, from Lan Samantha Chang tackling absent or dead parents in "The Eve of the Spirit Festival" to Emily Rabateau addressing race in "Mrs. Turner's Lawn Jockeys."With a preface and introductions to each piece by Mary Frosch providing cultural context, this collection is a stunning literary tribute to a new generation of global citizens that provides a distinctively American sense of hope.

From the second-century celestial models of Ptolemy to modern-day research institutes and quantum theory, this classic book offers a breathtaking tour... of astronomy and the brilliant, eccentric personalities who have shaped it. From the first time mankind had an inkling of the vast space that surrounds us, those who study the universe have had to struggle against political and religious preconceptions. They have included some of the most charismatic, courageous, and idiosyncratic thinkers of all time. In Coming of Age in the Milky Way, Timothy Ferris uses his unique blend of rigorous research and captivating narrative skill to draw us into the lives and minds of these extraordinary figures, creating a landmark work of scientific history.

When Katherine Sharpe arrived at her college health center with an age-old complaint, a bad case of homesickness, she received a thoroughly modern... response: a twenty-minute appointment and a prescription for Zoloft—a drug she would take for the next ten years. This outcome, once unlikely, is now alarmingly common. Twenty-five years after Prozac entered the marketplace, 10 percent of Americans over the age of six use an SSRI antidepressant. In Coming of Age on Zoloft, Sharpe blends deeply personal writing, thoughtful interviews, and historical context to achieve an unprecedented portrait of the antidepressant generation. She explores questions of identity that arise for people who start medication before they have an adult sense of self. She asks why some individuals find a diagnosis of depression reassuring, while others are threatened by it. She presents, in young people's own words, their intimate and complicated relationships with their medication. And she weighs the cultural implications of America's biomedical approach to moods.

Part book, part CD-ROM, Coming of Age marks a new age in curriculum development, offering innovative new ideas for transforming advanced writing... courses. Together, these essays describe and offer concrete examples of curriculum that incorporates discipline-based theory and history, that situates writers in public discourse, and that fully prepares students for careers as writers.Because Coming of Age is intended to instigate direct, immediate curriculum and pedagogical action, it is ideally suited to the book/CD-ROM format that the authors call print-linked publishing. The theoretical framework is presented in the solid, stable medium of print. Part I proposes the move from "advanced composition" to "advanced writing," and along with Part II, argues for what the undergraduate writing curriculum should accomplish. The generative course descriptions and program recommendations are presented in the interactive medium of a CD-ROM. Here you'll find Parts III and IV, which explain and demonstrate how to accomplish these goals, discuss ways to implement such curriculum, and provide concrete suggestions from a variety of campuses that have done so. The CD-ROM also features a full list of course descriptions for each selection. All of the electronic material can be downloaded as you compose your own curriculum and course proposals.

Interesting, personal, and practical, this book is a fresh resource for educators and parents who want to improve their understanding of what makes... these no-longer-children-but-not-yet-fully-adolescents tick. The author, a seasoned veteran of 19 years as a middle school teacher and now a professor, combines his own experience with the findings of research and solid information from the literature to present in this volume just about everything you should know about young adolescents. Not a book to be read and put aside, but a resource to keep on hand to re-read, refer to, and cite in your work guiding the education and development of these magical, mysterious young people who are coming of age.

Today, there are women athletes who are media celebrities and a source of inspiration for many. But not long ago, being serious about sport was... considered appropriate only for men and boys. Throughout the twentieth century, women's increasing participation in sport has challenged our conception of womanhood. Some celebrated the female athlete as the embodiment of modern womanhood, but others branded her "mannish" or lesbian. Ultimately, she altered the perception of sport as an exclusively male domain. Susan Cahn's story of how sport has changed women's lives and women have transformed sport is an important chapter in the wider history of women's struggles to define their role in the twentieth century. For the women who dared to compete, participation in sport enabled them to expand the boundaries of women's activities and to claim that strength, skill, physicality, and competitiveness could be authentic attributes of womanhood. This is the legacy they passed on to the new generation of women for whom athleticism is becoming a way of life.

LGBT persons face multiple challenges when entering the coming out process, regardless of their age or place in society. Coming Out and Disclosures:... LGBT Persons Across the Life Span is a comprehensive guide to the coming out process for LGBT individuals, how to prepare for disclosure, and how disclosure is received in various groups. The book examines sexual orientation and identities; developmental models of coming out; disclosure in adolescence, midlife, or later; coming out to parents and family members; and disclosure outside the family. The book also provides practitioners with guidelines for working with clients who want to make disclosures. Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span brings together into a single source the latest research and current thought on the experiences of LGBT persons in a heterosexist society. This resource, which is also useful as a supplemental textbook, can be used as a guide to practice for professionals and can be used for in-service training and workshops. This invaluable book has an extensive bibliography. Topics in Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span include the meaning of sexual identity across various populations, an overview of coming out in the heterosexist world, detailed analysis of the coming out process, examination of the coming out process at different ages, an overview of disclosures in the heterosexist world, detailed analysis of disclosures to parents and family members across various cultures, suggested interventions based on coming out models, special issues experienced in coming out, strategies to facilitate disclosures, and more. Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span is an essential guide for any LGBT individual preparing to enter the coming out process, and practitioners in the helping professions, such as social work, counseling, and mental health.

This book is about how police officers can overcome law enforcement's unwritten "don't ask, don't tell" policy and live their lives as they were made to... be. The book includes a collection of autobiographies of highly successful police officers from all over the country. These rarely published coming out stories of real police officers are intended to inspire the thousands of law enforcement officers who are still in the closet and who are searching for the courage to come out. This book is perfect for you if you are . . . Working in law enforcement and thinking about coming out. An out gay or lesbian in law enforcement. A friend of someone in law enforcement who is gay and struggling. An ally who wants to learn more about how to be supportive. A law enforcement leader interested in creating an accepting diverse place to work. A law enforcement psychologist who wants to better understand. A young gay or lesbian person who is thinking about a law enforcement career. Anyone who wants a look inside a secretive and intriguing part of law enforcement. www.comingoutfrombehindthebadge.com

For many Christians, "homosexuality" is an issue. It is often considered a matter of "us" versus "them," or worse, for gay men and women, a question of... their behavior, not something intrinsic to their identity. Coming Out in Christianity examines this conflict from the point of view of a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians. It focuses on current and former members of two Metropolitan Community Churches in California that serve predominantly LGBT Christians. Based on original research, including more than 70 in-depth interviews, the book explores life histories, current beliefs, cultural settings, and community influences to learn what helped each forge an identity as both gay and Christian. These powerful case studies will help to deepen our understanding of both religion and personal identity.

Coming out is the process of acknowledging same-sex attractions to oneself and to others. It is both a personal and a public process. For many gay and... bisexual students, college marks a pivotal point where for the first time they feel free to explore their same-sex attractions. This book is about the struggles students face in coming out. The focus is twofold: the experiences individuals face in coming to terms with their sexual identity and the process of developing a group identity. The development of a group identity involves a degree of political investment. For some students, becoming political means adopting a queer persona. As one student noted, Queer is kind of an `in your face' attitude toward heterosexism and homophobia. A primary focus of this book revolves around the notion of queer identity and how students engage as cultural workers seeking both campus and societal change.