Ch. 3 - Social Flashcards
What are social transitions?
changes in social roles or status that are recognized by society
often from child to adult
What is social redefinition?
public recognition that the person’s status has changed
universal
specific characteristics vary drastically between cultures
What are some examples of social redefinition rituals from other cultures?
Mandan Tribe
- trials to become adult warrior, 4-day survival ordeal followed by being slashed to give scars that serve as sign of adulthood to others
Indigenous Australians
- walkabout: live in the wilderness alone for as long as 6 months, separation from community to develop patience, self-confidence, survival skills
What is female genital mutilation?
genital cutting that occurs before marriage, process that “needs to be done” in many African countries/tribes despite it being illegal
usually with improper sanitation or tools
What are the characteristics of transition into adulthood in North America? (7)
lacks clarity
- less obvious, no processes recognized by entire society
is a process
- series of events over many years
not universal
- no indicators common to all
inconsistent
- different rites have different ages, different people have different expectations upon them in different contexts
puberty marks onset of transition
long period of adolescence/transition
- marginal person for long time
can be continuous or discontinuous depending on the circumstances
What is extrusion?
real or symbolic separation from parents
ex. summer camp, sleepovers, going away to college/university
sign that adolescent is getting older
What is scarification? Do we have this in North America?
intentional creation of scars as part of an initiation ceremony
seems strange to us, but people across North America also have body rituals
- piercings, tattoos, shaving, makeup
- also emerge around puberty
What 7 types of impacts do social redefinition have?
identity autonomy interpersonal relationships careers and work-related behaviour political status economic status legal status
How does social redefinition impact identity?
being treated and viewed as an adult leads to assuming more adult roles and thinking more about adult issues
How does social redefinition impact autonomy?
more freedom in activities and choices, more independence
but also more expectations/obligations
How does social redefinition impact interpersonal relationships?
intimate relationships are permitted and expected
expected to control themselves and exhibit socially appropriate behaviour
set example for younger relatives
communication style with adults changes
How does social redefinition impact careers and work-related behaviour?
expected to get a career/join the work force
causes thinking about the future
How does social redefinition impact political status?
allows voting at 18
How does social redefinition impact economic status?
income/savings allow control over the self and finances for the first time
How does social redefinition impact legal status?
ages vary for different activities
legally an adult at 18
How has society made adolescence a distinct period?
redefining roles and creating a lengthy transition from childhood to adulthood
has only come to exist in its current form within the past 100 years
longer today than it has ever been before (though deciding on its beginning and end points are entirely subjective)
How long did adolescence (marked as the time between menarche and marriage) last in the mid-19th century compared to now? What are the implications of this?
went from 5 years to 15 years
live with parents longer - impact parent-child relationship
economic maturity far behind their psychological maturity
allows time for formal education that is necessary to transition to adult work roles - but school is not something that all individuals enjoy equally
What are inventionists?
theorists who argue the period of adolescence is a social invention
defined primarily by the way society recognizes the period
How did industrialization impact adolescence?
brought new patterns of work, education, and family life
job shortage due to machines replacing workers, meant adolescents were competing with adults for jobs, removed adolescents from the labour force by turning them into full time students
argument that young people should be kept out of the work force because the working conditions were too dangerous
What is a teenager by definition?
young person
connotation more frivolous and lighthearted than adolescent
term popularized about 50 years ago
What ages are considered “youth”?
18-22
What is emerging adulthood?
18-25
neither adolescence or adulthood but a unique developmental period
doesn’t exist in all cultures - only the most Westernized
mixed reports on mental health - some say period of floundering some say period of carefree optimism and independence
What are the 5 main features of emerging adulthood?
exploration of possible identities before making enduring choices
instability in work, romantic relationships, and living arrangements
focus on oneself and on functioning as an independent person
feeling of being between adolescence and adulthood
sense that life holds many possibilities
How has marriage, living at home, and education changed since the Baby Boom era?
fewer marry and at an older age
far more live with their parents
far more go straight into college vs. full-time employment or the military
What is a continuous versus a discontinuous transition?
continuous = entered into gradually
- children transitioning into adult work roles on the family farm
discontinuous = entered into abruptly
- entering the labour force for the first time after graduating
- common in contemporary society
