age identity

age stratification

Organising people into a system of hierarchy based on their age. It varies across cultures; E.G.elderly people have a higher status in some cultures than others. It might lead to ageism.

infancy: 0-1

milestones – smiling, vocal sounds, sit, crawl

early childhood: 2-8

development – cognitive, social, emotional, speech, language, gross motor skill, fine motor skill

late childhood: 9-12

increased independence, friendships, hobbies/interests, involved in activities (sports/dance)

adolescence: 13-19

physical and mental growth, sexual attraction, importance of acceptance, impaired groups, education

adulthood: 20-59

maturity, experienced, practical, goal orientated, careers, autonomy

old age: 60+

decreased mobility, skin changes, vision and hearing changes, health conditions, change in sleep pattern, changing appetite, changing energy levels, retire

what is age?

• chronological age

• may be considered a social construct

• a stage in the life course

Stan Cohen - ‘folk devils and moral panics’ book

• folk devils are those individuals or groups who are portrayed in the media as outsiders and blamed for societal problems

• the media and authorities can exaggerate and sensationalise certain behaviours, leading to public outcry and moral panic

• how society reacts to perceived threats and how those reactions can create a cycle of fear and misunderstanding

aries perception of childhood

childhood did not exist in pre-industrial societies. Children used to be workers and childhood lasted for shorter time.

media portrayal of children

cute, innocent, pure, sweet or troublemakers and victims. Can create a lot of fear and anxiety about childhood these days.

postman‘s perception of childhood

‘innocent’ child was created through spread of literacy. Before, children were often viewed a small adult adults, but as books and education became more accessible, people started to see children as innocent beings who needed protection and nurturing.

postman - ‘the disappearance of childhood’ book

he claimed that our children are bombarded with information and images meant for adults, they lose that magical innocence that defines childhood

sue Palmer –‘ toxic childhood’ book

• modern society has created an environment that’s not so great for kids

• she argues that things like excessive screen time, lack of outdoor play, and unhealthy diets are harming children’s development

• believe that the pressures of modern life, like academic stress and the fast pace world we live in, can lead to anxiety and mental health issues in kids

• all about promoting a more balanced lifestyle, encouraging kids to get back to nature, play freely, and have a ‘good’ childhood experience without all of the toxic influences

news article – Houthis continue to recruit child soldiers, despite Yemen truce

• nearly 2000 child soldiers died fighting for the houthis between January 2020 and May 2021

• man teaches the parts of an AK-47 rifle to a full classroom

• he then hands it over to a boy, showing him how to cock it

• other children crowd around (appear to be no older than 10), asking for their turn

what is youth?

• 12-25

• socially constructed as a period of transition from childhood to adulthood

• time of rebellious/resistance

• initiation ceremonies – celebrating childhood adolescence

storm and stress theory - stanley hall

• refers to the period of adolescence as a time of turmoil and difficulty

• three key elements: conflict with parents and authority figures, mood disruptions, and risky behaviour

• though not all adolescence experience or stress as described by hall, it is generally accepted that it is more likely to happen during the period of adolescence then at any other time in life

what is a midlife crisis?

people might start to feel a sense of dissatisfaction or anxiety about aging, unfulfilled dreams, or the passage of time

what is empty nest syndrome?

the feelings of sadness or loss that parents often experience when their children leave home for the first time

corner (1999) – participants use negative language to talk about their ageing identity

• can rainforest stereotypes about aging, making it seem like getting older is something to dread rather than embrace

• corner highlighted that this can lead to a more pessimistic view of aging, impacting self-esteem and overall mental health

why does the family play an important part in age identity?

an individuals position within the family can influence how others see them or how they see themselves

the stereotype of old people as a social problem often comes from within the family

• a common theme within many studies is that the family members assume that the older relative will need and want more care than they actually do

• this identification of old age within primary socialisation is likely to have a lasting influence on old age identity

from the time of first starting school, age is a determining factor in children’s lives

• the month a child is born in well determined their year group and their position within that year group as ‘old’ or ‘young’

• this remains with the child until they leave school/college

• identification with age boundaries at such a young age is likely to have a lasting impression on how people understand the aging process

hidden curriculum

by using phrases such as he was an old man when he died or she was a young woman the identification of age is a social category is reinforced

shain (2003)

Study how groups of Asian girls develop distinct or entities in a secondary school (the gang girls, the rebels, the survivors and the five girls) as a way of coping with school. Their peers were crucial in who the girls identified with.

which age group is more spiritual?

elderly - religion in the UK is declining

mckingsley (2001)

found that religion was used as a coping strategy in his sample of those aged 85 and over

the media represents different age categories in stereotypical ways

• youths are over represented as deviant and troublesome (Muncie 2004), middle age is represented as a time of crisis and old age as a time of dependency and loneliness.

• these representations are important because they influence popular culture so heavily

thornton (1996)

argued that the media are largely responsible for the creation of youth culture and range of youth identities in the contemporary uk

in recent years, there has been a more positive representation of older icons in the media

Helen Mirren is a good example of someone who gains extensive media coverage for her talent and her ‘active aging’

retirement does coincide with the identification of old age to some extent

in this sense, the workplace can be considered as the site which prepares people for this potential change in their status

minimum wage

The minimum wage for those aged 18 and over creates an age categorisation for young people

intersectionality

the interconnectedness of social categorisation that shapes an individuals experiences and opportunities

post-modernism

age is fluid and becoming less significant today

featherstone and Hepworth (2005) – media images of aging are changing

the portrayal of older people in the media is shifting from those stereotypical, native images to more positive and diverse ones

hockey and james (1993)

• children are seen to lack the status of ‘Personhood’, and are separated and excluded from the public, adult world, largely confined to specialist places for children such as schools, nurseries and the family

• same as the opposite of adults – dependent, innocent, vulnerable, in need of care and control

• link old age and childhood, and argue they are socially constructed in a similar way, having lost their personhood status

• terms such as ‘gaga’ are used, relating to baby noises, and the elderly are also seen as helpless and vulnerable, dependent, and needing care

• they use the concept of infantilisation to describe this

secularisation

disassociation or separation from religious values