Part 1

Yesterday after church my wife and daughter along with some other family members went school shopping at the mall in Austin. We had lots of fun shopping as a family(eight of us total). It was the first time we all did that and it turned out to be great. One reason why I was really glad to go was that I got to witness something that really got me thinking. First it had been a while sense I'd gone to the mall in Austin,but what really got my attention was the stores that our youth were all into. The Zoomies, Pac Sun,Gadzooks,Hollister,American Eagle just to name a few. These stores had youth culture all over them and it wasn't done by accident. I started noticing everything from the music they played and the design and lay out of the whole store. I started thinking why wouldn't a teenager be attracted to go into these stores? Now, I know alot of these stores aren't just for teens I saw, adults as well shopping there. At least yesterday for me I noticed more youth shopping in them. Okay, so where I'm I going with this? Is this just about the stores? Is it just about shopping? The answer is no! It's about how these stores do such a great job on marketing and advertising their products towards our youth. From the employees who worked at them to the whole store itself. The minute I walked in I noticed so many things. It's like kids were walking around with bull's eye targets on their backs and the stores knew it. First the employees looked young I didn't see any older people in them. It was like they came straight out of the pictures they had on their walls. Now, I'm not trying to dog on them at all I'm just telling you what I observed that's it. Teenagers notice that, and I think it becomes alot easier for them to approach someone who looks their age. Then there was the music and in some cases there were music videos. Today's popular artist playing in stores that sounded more like clubs, meaning they were loud. And what teenager doesn't like loud music? Even the displays as you walked in were awesome. One in particular was the Hollister's store display. Before you even stepped in the store there were two mannequins. One female and the other male. The male was dressed with a shirt unbuttoned and ripped up with some wash board abs! This was a mannequin ya'll! The girl was skinny and had no flaws in it's figure. Now, what kind of message is that for everyone? This world already tells us that's image is everything. Which isn't true at all. The pressures that our youth face already tells us that we need to point them in the right path. How can we do that? Walt Mueller in his book Youth Culture 101 talks alot about this. I want to make this post part one of my experience at the mall and talk about what I read in his book. I fell it's very important to know our culture,youth in particular. Theres so much that we can learn as youth workers and as parents if we just take the time to learn about today's rapidly changing youth culture. We need stay up to speed. I learned that at the mall. I enjoyed being able to observe everything I did at the mall. I learned alot and took in so much it was great! Although next time I'll ask the security guy for his segway, walking stinks! I'll be posting more later and I promise I won't bore you. Next: the stores we had to shop in as a teenager. Can I give a shout out to..... BUGLE BOY !!!!! Peace out.