ABSTRACT

In a country as large and diverse as India, adolescent experiences differ widely according to social and cultural contexts. For those from the upper social strata, schooling may be equated with competition and stress. In the lower social strata, meanwhile, poor access to schooling, gender disparities, and the early arrival of adult responsibilities (entering the workforce, marriage, and child-bearing, to name just three) are more often the reality. Given this scenario, some of the key themes that have guided my work on adolescence are school stress, risk, and resilience among working children, family life experiences amidst social change, and life-skills education for empowering the youth. I also share some of the inner dilemmas and challenges of working in this field along with my efforts in advocacy that have shaped my experiences of engaging in research, practice, and policy.