Beyond Adultocentrism: A New Feminist Approach to Adolescence

• Feminist educator Pamela Palenciano explores the need for a shift in how feminism is taught to adolescents in her new book, 'No me des la chapa'.
• The work argues that feminists must move away from 'adultocentrism' and replace moralizing lectures with authentic, empathetic dialogue.

Addressing Adultocentrism

• Palenciano acknowledges that her generation of feminists has often been deeply adultocentric, unintentionally hardening their positions.
• Acknowledging one's own mistakes and limitations is essential to rebuilding trust with younger generations, as didactic approaches often trigger rebellion rather than understanding.

Rethinking Engagement with Boys

• The author critiques past methods that treated boys primarily as figures who needed to be corrected or stripped of negative traits, often ceding space to the 'manosphere'.
• The manosphere gains traction by offering simple answers to complex problems; feminism must counter this by offering a compelling vision of masculinity that is free from constant performance and fear.
• Instead of waiting for others to address boys, feminists should enter the spaces where they currently reside, using accessible language to analyze dominant discourses together.

Transforming the Educational Dynamic

• Adolescents face constant judgment from adults; by acknowledging this power dynamic, feminists can foster deeper connections.
• Teaching should involve sharing personal uncertainties and mistakes rather than presenting adulthood as a static state of absolute certainty.
• Cultivating curiosity and presence—qualities adolescents naturally embody—is the key to transforming authority into a shared, productive learning experience.