Age Identity

Question 1

Bradley (1996)

Answer 1

Identifies 5 generational stages in age identity:

Childhood
Adolescence/youth
Young adulthood
Midlife
Old age

Question 2

What is childhood

Answer 2

Age 0-12

At this age children are supposed to be protected by their parents/ other adults

Question 3

Aries (1962)

Answer 3

Argues that the experience of a child has changed over the last 500 years

Question 4

Postman (1982)

Answer 4

Argues that childhood emerged only when the spread of literacy enabled adults to better shield children from adult life so the “innocent child” was created.

There has been a decline in childhood in the 20th century due to the media which threatens its existence

Question 5

Mead (1928)

Answer 5

Says that not all cultures have a concept of youth as in the Samar tribe people go from a child to adult over night

Question 6

What is adolescence/youth

Answer 6

Ages 12-25

Socially constructed as a time of rebellion/ transition

Question 7

What is young adulthood

Answer 7

Ages 18-35

This is the age group between leaving home and middle age. Little research about this group.

Most people form families, careers and homes during this time

Question 8

James and Wallace (1992)

Answer 8

Private markers (e.g first sexual encounter) and public markers (e.g right to vote) signify the beginning of adult status

Question 9

Pilcher

Answer 9

Argues we should distinguish between the young old (65-74) and old old (85+)

He notes that old people are often described in derogatory ways such as ‘old fogey/biddy’. These stereotypes are a way of marginalising the old and labelling themselves them as inferior.

Question 10

Corner (1999)

Answer 10

The language used by older participants about their own identity was mostly negative, reflecting that used by the media. Old people are described as a “burden” to society

Question 11

James and Hockey (1993)

Answer 11

Old people are treated as children in old peoples homes and excluded from society (aka infantilisation). They need help with tasks such as eating and washing

Question 12

Postmodernist view on age identity

Answer 12

Argue living and working for longer, anti-ageing products and procedures, and the extension of “youth” and childhood show how age is fluid and becoming less significant today

Question 13

Fetherstone and Hepworth (2005)

Answer 13

argue that media images of ageing, which have been a source of negative stereotypes and identities, can also create new identities.

The popularity or retro fashion help blur the boundaries