Age

• Who identified these 5 major life stages of age identity in the UK?

  1. Childhood
  2. Adolescence
  3. Young adulthood
  4. Middle age
  5. Old age


  Bradley
• Prove childhood is socially constructed:

  Childhood - UK: Kids are innocent + protected.

  Childhood - other cultures: Kids can be soldiers, can be married from ages 12-13.
• Who argued that childhood didn't exist in the Medieval Times?


  Philippe Ariès - kids were seen as mini adults + expected to go out and work ➡️shows that age is a social construction
• How did Postman say childhood became a life stage + how is it currently threatened?


  • Spread of literacy allowed adults to protect kids from certain aspects of adult life ➡️ they remained 'innocent'
  • 21st Cen. visual media + tech is eroding the distinction between childhood + adolescence
• Youth is a period of - from childhood ➡️ adulthood.

  Transition
• Name a culture that has no period of transition from childhood to adulthood: (where you just move up a life stage)

  Hamar tribe - they have a bull-jumping ceremony where after passing, you become an adult
• What did Jock Young say ab. youth?

  Media shapes the image of youth.
• What did Griffin say ab. youth?


  Youth is seen through the lens of social problems.
• 2 factors characterising young adulthood:

  1. Family
  2. Career
• What did Hockney & James say about young adulthood?


  Individuals have more freedom + control over their lives
• What did Bradley say ab. middle age?

  Middle age is the life stage w/ the most status - e.g. middle-aged ppl run the country + hold power @ work
• What did Hockney & James say ab. middle age?

  It's a period of stability + self-reflection
• What did Bernardes say ab. middle age?

  Middle-aged ppl are underrepresented in media
• How is middle age seen negatively?

  • Associated w/ 'mid-life crisis'
  • Seen as when old age gets closer
• How do old ppl see themselves?

  They've been socialised into believing the negative connotations surrounding old age
• What did Corner say ab. old age?

  Elderly participants in his study were worried ab. becoming burdens to their family + society
• What did Victor say ab. old age?


  Old age is associated w/ loneliness + poor health + dependency on others
• What did Sontag say ab. old age?


  Ageism leads to stereotypes that limit the social roles of the elderly in society
• What did Hazan say ab. old age?


  Older adults can be marginalised in society.
• How would PM's argue that age identities are changing?

  Ppl are living + working longer AND increase in anti-aging products/procedures = age identities are more fluid
• How did Featherstone & Hepworth say age identities are changing?


  Media imgs of ageing have made negative stereotypes BUT can also make new identities as well.