Soc Lesson 15

The Life Course

• The life course refers to the stages of life from conception to death, including childhood, adolescence, transitional adulthood, the middle years, and the older years.
• The life course has implications for sociology, as each stage has an impact on behavior and inclinations, and is shaped by social position, including gender, race, and social class.

Childhood (from birth to about age 12)

• Historian Philippe Aries (1965) argued that childhood was not seen as a significant phase of life in Europe during the Middle Ages, and children were treated as miniature adults.
• In contrast, modern society views children as delicate and innocent, requiring gentle guidance and care.
• The Industrial Revolution changed the way we view children, with parents and authorities seeing them as needing protection, comfort, and education.

Adolescence (age 13 to 17)

• Adolescence is not a natural age divide, but a societal construct that emerged with the Industrial Revolution.
• The Industrial Revolution created a surplus of material goods, making it possible for teenagers to delay entry into the labor market and focus on education.
• Adolescence is characterized by internal turmoil, as individuals struggle to find their identity and create their own subcultures.

Transitional Adulthood (age 18 to 29)

• Transitional adulthood is a new stage of life that is emerging in post-industrial nations, characterized by extended youth and delayed entry into adult responsibilities.
• During this stage, individuals may attend college, start their careers, and engage in courtship customs, while still trying to find themselves.
• Transitional adulthood is a time of extended youth, where individuals are neither psychological adolescents nor sociological adults.

The Middle Years (age 30 to 65)

• The early middle years (ages 30-49) are characterized by increased confidence and self-awareness, but also by shocks and ruptures, such as divorce and job loss.
• The later middle years (ages 50-65) are marked by a shift in thinking, from time since birth to time remaining to live, and a focus on health and mortality.
• Individuals may experience the "sandwich generation" phenomenon, where they care for both their children and ageing parents.

The Older Years (about age 65 on)

• The concept of old age is changing, with people viewing their 60s as an extension of their middle years rather than as old age.
• The older transitional years are a new stage of life, emerging between retirement and old age, where people are more integrated into social networks and maintain their mental sharpness.
• People in this stage may engage in more sex and find it more enjoyable, and may experience a sense of "time closing in" on them.

The Sociological Significance of the Life Course

• The life course has sociological significance, as it shapes our behavior and inclinations, and is influenced by social position and socialization.
• Each stage of life has its own unique characteristics, and is shaped by historical, geographical, and economic factors.

Are We Prisoners of Socialization?

• Sociologists do not view individuals as robots, passive recipients of socialization, but rather as active agents who create their own selves through experience and social interaction.
• While socialization has a significant impact on us, we are not prisoners of it, and can change our own selves within the constraints of our social environments.
• Our essential life orientations are established by our familial experiences, but we can deliberately expose ourselves to other ideologies and groups, and change our own selves in the process.