How to better understand your “emo” teen
Emo teens are not what most people think they are; they are teens who are free thinkers and want to separate themselves from the mainstream.
If you’ve been exposed to emo culture and the typical perception that they’re miserable, repressed, sensitive, and generally dark in character, you may be concerned if your child is beginning to enjoy the emo-world. However, do not despair; this is most likely a phase, and the following will assist you in understanding what it means to be an emo teen.
What is an “emo” teen?
The term ’emo’ refers to emotive or emocore music, which exploded in popularity in the mid-1980s in Washington, D.C., thanks to bands like Rites of Spring and Embrace. In the early 1990s, more mainstream labels jumped on the emo bandwagon with artists like Fall Out Boy and Weezer.
Perhaps more than any other musical genre, emo has a unique relationship with its listeners in terms of clothing, behaviour, and culture. If you’ve ever seen a teen dressed in narrow jeans, studded belts, and tight t-shirts with band names, frequently with black hair and accompanying make-up, you’ve already encountered ’emos’.
What is it like to be an emo teen?
Although they appear dark and unenthusiastic, an emo kid is just like any other teen – happy at times, moody at other times – the emo is simply expressing it externally.
Emo teenagers are a subculture, which means that the music they listen to and the bands they idolise become ingrained in their appearance and way of life.
An emo youngster often has jet-black hair, black make-up (even on boys), dark clothes, pale skin, facial piercings, and listens to punk rock but does not appear to like it. If this describes your teen, you are well aware of the studded belts, collars, and chains that may be strewn around their bedroom.
Myths about emo culture
Numerous television series, films, and even the mainstream media have vilified the emo culture, and as a result, the public has a negative perception of it. They have long been stereotyped as individuals who engage in drug use, advocate self-harm, are violent, and suffer from eating disorders. This is not proven to be true, and in honesty, can happen to any teen associated with any group.
How to communicate with your emo teen
While you may have little in common with your emo teen, it’s important that you try and understand them a bit better. Keeping your lines of communication open is imperative. Learn as much as you can about the emo subculture. Rather than redirecting the topic to their appearance or style, inquire about it and demonstrate an interest.
How did they discover the emo scene, and why do they enjoy it? Inquire about their favourite bands and request to listen to them. Certain bands linked with emo culture are quite good, and you might be surprised to learn that they are not what you think!
