Age and identity

Age and identity

1. Childhood

   • Typically ages between 4-11 but can be seen as socially constructed
   • In some cultures there is no childhood
     • In India children will be working. Marriage may even be considered for girls
   • Children are portrayed as little angels or devils- contradictory view
   • Postman (1982)
     • Argues childhood emerged when literacy enabled adults to protect their children from different aspects of life- sexuality

2. Youth

   • Typically associated with 12-25 year olds, but is also socially constructed
     • Period of transition from childhood to adulthood
   • Some culture have no acceptance of 'youth'
     • In the Hama tribe, childhood ends one day and adulthood beings the next
   • Margaret Mead
     • Argues 'storm and stress' is culturally specific and not found it all cultures

3. Middle age

   • Associated with 30-50s
   • Young adulthood is characterised by career, family, relationships, children, home and independence.
   • Bradley (1996)
     • Argues middle age holds a higher status than youth or old age. Also negative as you lose 'youth and old age comes closer

4. Old age

   • Considerable question about when old age starts.
     • Ageing bodies are a form of ugliness and degeneration. Shown in a negative light
   • Corner's (1999)
     • Old people view themselves negatively. Their own comments were negative- they were burdens

5. Age

   • Postmodernism
     • Look at trends like living and working longer, anti-ageing products to extend 'youth'. Shows how age is fluid and less significant
   • Featherstone & Hepworth
     • Argue media images of ageing which are usually negative can create new identities.
       • Popularity of retro and comeback tours blur boundaries of life course

6. Growing up & Growing old

   • Hockey & James
     • Children lack the personhood and are excluded from society
       • Confined in school, nursery and family
     • Link old age and childhood- lost the personhood status
       • Concept of infantilisation- elderly are dependent and needing of care
         • In their research in a retirement home, old age were treated like children.
           • Argue negative identity can be resisted through alternative source of status. Men exerting power over staff.