I take the bus to work from Acre Lane in Brixton. More than twice I’ve seen a teenage girl (approx 14 or 15) in school uniform with what must be her brother. Every time she’s been constantly sucking her thumb. Quite startling to see from a young adult. She doesn’t seem to be mentally deficient. Her brother behaves as if it’s completely normal. She doesn’t look particularly defiant or anything, but I can’t help but think – is this the new teenage rebellion?
the new teenage rebellion… thumb sucking?
Published July 6, 2007 Acre Lane , London , rebellion , teenagers , thumb sucking 7 CommentsTags: Acre Lane, London, rebellion, teenagers, thumb sucking
maybe.. u can make photo about it so we can open a complete article
I was tempted at the time but thought it would have been pretty rude – didn’t feel like a showdown on Acre Lane first thing in the morning! I haven’t seen her again since…
I’ve noticed the regular hits on this post and have done a little surfing on the subject. Very surprised to learn adult thumb sucking is supposedly more prevalent that one would first think – and becoming more visible around the world ie for some reason thumb suckers are ‘coming out’. But then I guess we’re all putting up with a lot more than we ever used to – huge increases in ‘anti-social’ behaviours, young people stabbing/shooting eachother, adults being attacked for sticking up for themselves or their children, drug addicts nodding off on the high streets of the UK, teenage pregnancies for the sake of welfare benefits, the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer, etc etc etc. So often people just pretend much worse things aren’t happening right next to them, so what’s the harm of a bit of thumb sucking in the scheme of things?
There’s nothing wrong with thumb sucking. In fact, there’s everything right about it. Just compare it with the things you list, not to mention most of the alternatives that people have as habits (drinking, gambling, smoking…, ok, exercising (but at least you can exercise and still suck your thumb)).
Spotted another one on Friday evening waiting for the bus in Wandsworth. She looked about 15, in uniform with other students, all looking very nonchalant.
And today’s variation was a double pram, toddler in one seat and much older girl in the other, maybe 7 or 8 years old. It was a packed train so I didn’t think too much of that. This variation was the index and ring fingers in the mouth. Problem was the toddler did exactly the same once the older girl started. Learned emulation, not comfort at all. Their mother was more interested in her phonecall.
I am an 8th grade teacher, and I have noticed this behavior among several of my students. While it is a behavior that is not harmful as others, such as drugs, alcohol, and gang-related activities, it is still a disturbing one. I’ve been teaching for more than 10 years, and I have never observed this behavior until this school year.
Thanks for your comment jeditaz. I’d like to get to grips with why we find it disturbing, what’s behind that deep sense of unease. There used to be such a sense of shame about it, after a certain age it was so inappropriate to suck your thumb (part of the necessary separation process of mother/parent and child). The inference now is that parents no longer give a toss about it – what else don’t they give a toss about? Or are parents so intent on their kids being able to be children they forget about teaching them how to grow up?
You make a good point though about never seeing it till this year. Something has shifted so it’s now out in the open instead of hidden. Seems unlikely teens have just decided to take it up as a fad – possible though.
Haven’t come across it yet in Melbourne.