The word, "stereotypes" in the third paragraph refers to:

Read the passage and answer the question that follows by choosing the correct option.

Adolescence is that difficult period of time when carefree children transition to responsible adults. That is the goal, after all: for teens to develop into mature, productive, responsible members of the community. One method for assisting this transition is by obtaining part-time employment. A job can help teenagers to develop better their identities, obtain increased autonomy, achieve new accomplishments, develop work experience, and become more independent of their parents.

According to the US Department of Labour, 50 percent of the American teenagers hold informal jobs, such as babysitting or yard work, by age 12. Boys tend to begin their jobs at younger age and work more hours than girls. By age 15 nearly two-thirds of the American teens have had some kind of employment. By the time the teens graduate from high school, 80 percent will have held a part-time job at some time during their school years. The average high school student works 20 hours per week, and about 10 percent work full time ( 35 hours or more).

There are many obstacles to teens obtaining employment. Finding reliable transportation is critical and that can be difficult if the job is not close by and the teen's parents work. Fighting stereotypes that employers have about adolescents, such as poor attitudes or lack of skills, can be challenging. In this particular economy there aren't very many job opportunities for teens.

Teens want to work for a variety of reasons, but more than half report their involvement in work is motivated by the desire to buy things. Typically, teens spend their money on car expenses, recreational, clothing, education expenses, saving for college and helping their families with living expenses (e.g. rent, groceries).