Age

• Age is viewed as a social construct, with perceptions varying based on individual, cultural, and social interpretations
• People are usually categorized into age groups such as teenager, adulthood, and old age, with stereotyped behaviors and norms associated with each group
• Age groups can create both a social and individual identity
• Older people are healthier today but are often negatively stereotyped by society
• Laslett introduced the concept of the 'third age' for fulfilled retirees, with 'active ageing' emphasizing activity post-retirement
• Ageism leads to prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination against older people, affecting their identity
• Young people form identities influenced by peer groups and leisure-based consumer lifestyles
• Youth subcultures express young people's identities, often different from mainstream society
• Functionalists view youth subcultures as a reaction to status frustration due to delayed transition to independent adulthood
• Marxists explain differences in youth subcultures, with some seen as resistance to dominant classes and culture
• Feminists critique male-centric studies on youth culture and highlight gender disparities in subcultures
• Postmodernists reject the notion of subculture, emphasizing individualistic reactions to societal uncertainties
• Youth prefer creating their identity through media-generated globalized culture according to Thornton
• Neo-tribalism refers to young people making consumer choices to assert identity for short periods, joining fluid tribes for lifestyle rituals like clubbing
• Young people in a postmodern world lead individualistic, consumer-driven, and media-saturated lives