cross-posted from: https://lemy.lol/post/50711475
A new study published in the journal Sexuality & Culture has found that many adolescents in Spain, including those as young as 12, are not only aware of OnlyFans but also see it as a viable and even empowering way to make money. In group discussions with over 160 teenagers, researchers discovered that platforms promoting erotic content are influencing how young people—especially girls—view economic opportunity, self-worth, and sexuality. Teens frequently framed content creation as a personal choice or expression of agency, while minimizing the risks.
This reminds me of something. Just before my 20th birthday, a Venezuelan friend and I had a little discussion about the concept of “teenagers.” I had lamented that my teen years were about to be over, since I was tying the word to numbers that ended in -teen. However, his idea of “teenager” was “adolescent” (Spanish adolescente) which wouldn’t apply to a 19 year old.
The Spanish language doesn’t have an equivalent “-teen” suffix. The closest term is “diez y …” (ten and …) which describes numbers from 16 (diez y seis) to 19 (diez y nueve). Adolescence for most people starts before age 16, so tying the concept to the “diez y …” ages doesn’t make sense.
In other words, despite every translator and teacher saying so, teenager ≠ adolescente. They each approximate the same life stage, and can at times refer to the same ages, but “teens” are a specific concept based on the English-language number system. It’s just one of those linguistic quirks to look out for.
Welcome to the world of translation where there is seldom a 1 to 1 translation. You often have to use something close but not correct or several words. It’s tough to decide which is better in a situation.