Mauritius today claims high and loud that it is a model of democracy. Articles and books have been published, debates have taken place and other representations by the media have seen the day. Yet, none of them has really attempted to lighten the burden that most youngsters are eligible to. Is it so embarrassing to discuss the “real” problems of teenagers?

The present situation indicates a rapid convergence of the Mauritian lifestyle towards a “modern” one. Most of us are proud of this achievement, but none is ready to accept the side effects. The spotlight is generally on youngsters when considering the modernization of our society since the former are assumed to be the group to depict most of the symptoms. This biased attitude towards the new generation is bound to interfere in the sound development of its emotional faculties.

It is an undeniable truth of this new millennium that adolescents build up their identity with a penchant for European culture. So far, there has been little objection to this alien infiltration in our own way of life. Then, why should we refuse that this change is also valid for the sound emotional development of a teenager?

At the age of 15 , this “natural” process makes its first appearances with the typical expected physical changes. The only difference between the evolution of past generations and this new one is mainly mental and emotional. The youngster is lured by the opposite sex. This attraction is further encouraged by our new “modern” environment. Indeed, movies along with other productions force the adolescent to think that this is common in everyday life as well, and they are right ! What is abnormal is that we tend to suppress our feelings because of either religious convictions or the stress resulting from the need to succeed in life. I am neither blaming religion nor the personal ambitions of the adults of today. Those lines of thought still have their role to play in maintaining an individual within the perimeters of the norms established by society. Nevertheless, there is a pressing need for them to adapt to the ever-changing world.

In the western culture, it is abnormal not to have a boyfriend or girlfriend at an age as young as fourteen. In Mauritius, if a girl goes out with a boy, she is considered a slut by the “grandparents” of today. The girl or even the boy is completely unwilling to reveal the relationship. That is perhaps the reason why young couples choose the back seats of buses or remote areas as their meeting places.

Another major problem is unwanted pregnancy or sexual relationships with minors. A boy and a girl who are together will definitely be tempted to experiment. Parents along with educational institutions are the ones to blame! Had society accepted the change in the lifestyle of the new generation, this could have been prevented.

Fortunately, today, there are parents, though few in number, who have changed for the sake of their children. They not only talk openly about the relationships of their children, but also explain the implications of a sexual relationship. It is a pity that most other parents are either ashamed to talk with their own children.

We can finally only hope that the present generation will not make such a drastic mistake when it comes to their own children in the future. It is essential to acknowledge that it is impossible to push away European culture. Indeed, if we are conscious about it, we can prevent our youth from falling into promiscuity while at the same time giving them their rightful opportunity to enjoy life.

<B>Rajnih DAMRY</B>