Age

• Bradley

  Identified five major stages of ageing: childhood, adolescent, young adulthood, middle aged and old age
• Childhood


  Can be seen as socially constructed. In the UK, it is seen as a time of innocence, dependence and vulnerability. In other cultures, many children are married young, work and even become soldiers. Even in the past children were seen as 'little adults' (Aries)
• Postman (Childhood)


  Argues that childhood emerged only when the spread of literacy enabled adults to better shield children from various aspects of adult life. Also that the emergence of and spread of the media and visual culture in the 20th century has brought about a decline in childhood supports the idea of childhood being socially constructed.
• Youth


  Between 12 and 25. In the UK, it is socially constructed as the 50s saw an emergence of youth culture based on fashion and hairstyles - shocking adults. In many societies youth is not a recognised phase of life, with many going through a rite of passage e.g. Bar Mitzvah
• Mead (Youth)

  The 'storm and stress' associated with youth isn't found in all cultures, indicating youth is a social construction
• Old Age


  Associated with retirement. Roberts argues that the UK admires youthful bodies, but sees ageing bodies as representing ugliness.
• Corner


  Old aged people described themselves in negative ways reflecting what is said in the media. They considered themselves to be burdens for ageing. Showing that old people are negatively labelled which leads them to a self-fulfilling prophecy
• Hockey and James


  Old age and childhood are socially constructed in similar ways. Society forces them into 'infantilisation' e.g. old people are placed in care homes and labelled as dependent, taking away aspects of their identity e.g. finance, daily routines
• How are identities changing?

  Postmodernists argue that trends such as living for longer, working for longer and anti-ageing products suggest age is fluid and less significant. Pilcher argues that stages of life are based on relationships, family, work and the economy. But since things are changing and fragmenting music, babies and fashion are no longer associated with specific age groups.
• How are identities changing? Continued

  Featherstone and Hepworth argue that the media's image of ageing can lead to positive and negative stereotypes, and can create new identities when a population ages, as more positive stereotypes emerge e.g. retro fashion and music regaining traction. Blaikre said that many media role models who are successful and attractive in older years are prevalent in today's society e.g. Maggie Smith, Madonna
• How identities are not changing?

  Interactionists argue that labelling of the elderly leads to infantilisation via the self-fulfilling prophecy. Marxists state that elderly are used as reserve army of labour, as are young. And the media still represents age groups negatively e.g. youth seen as deviant through moral panics, old people grumpy and senile.