Mexico's Emo Teens Under Fire

An ugly clash of cultures is surfacing in Mexico with so-called emo teenagers being viciously beaten in big cities across the country, Wired reports. In one well-publicized attack north of Mexico City, an 800-strong mob—made up of punk fans and ordinary working-class teens—beat up a handful of long-haired, mascara-wearing teens. Another attack in the capital itself has prompted the police to begin anti-riot patrols.

Youth subcultures are common in Mexico, but the emos have been attracting a violent reaction from their peers largely because of their androgynous look—a no-no in the nation's macho culture, experts say. "What do you do when you are confronted with a question mark about sexuality in Mexico?" asked a Mexican editor. "You beat it up." Mexico City has organized a summit of youth tribes to try and stop the violence. (More teenager stories.)