ADOLESCENCE IN URBAN INDIA: Cultural Construction in a Society in Transition

Book Details

• Author: Shagufa Kapadia

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2021

• ISBN: 9788132239789

• Pages: 222

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book

Set in the context of rapid social change and globalization, this thought-provoking volume explores the nuanced world of adolescence in contemporary urban India. Drawing on a series of mixed-method studies involving adolescent boys and girls, as well as parents from upper middle-class urban families, the book unveils how adolescence is interpreted and experienced from both generational perspectives.

Author Shagufa Kapadia, with a deep-rooted cultural-contextual perspective on human development, frames adolescence not merely as a stage of transition but as a culturally constructed experience. She highlights critical themes such as empathy, relational autonomy, family interdependence, and the influence of globalization on the adolescent psyche. Central to the book is a model of the parent–adolescent relationship grounded in care, mutual respect, and trust—elements vital to healthy development.

The book also sheds light on overlooked dimensions such as adolescents' emotional maturity, their capacity for perspective-taking, and the balancing act between modern influences and traditional values. It addresses key concerns like insecurity and uncertainty brought about by globalization and how these shape the psychological and emotional world of today’s youth.

A valuable resource for scholars of human development, psychology, family studies, and allied fields, this book also serves as a practical guide for professionals working with adolescents. It offers a sensitive, research-backed lens on adolescence that helps families, educators, and policy-makers better support positive youth development in a globalizing world.