Chapter 12, Then and Now Summary and Analysis

This chapter describes how adolescent culture in the 1990s differs from that of previous generations. Dr. Pipher contrasts her own adolescent experiences with those of fifteen-year-old rape victim Cassie. Dr. Pipher's childhood takes place in a small town where everyone knows each other. Her community is not materialistic at all. In fact, talking about wealth is considered to be in poor taste. Dr. Pipher quotes Garrison Keillor, saying, "Nobody gets rich in a small town because everybody's watching". Dr. Pipher does not even see a television show until she is six years old, and it frightens her.

Alcohol and drugs are hard to obtain during the 1950s, but cigarettes are abundant. Divorce is uncommon, and family problems are kept private. Women are considered inferior. Racism and intolerance toward people who are different is common. Even...