Section A Overview: Identity Flashcards
What is childhood?
Can be seen as socially constructed. In some cultures, children will be working, and even fighting as armed soldiers. Marriage may be considered at the age of 12 or 13, especially for girls. Postman argues that childhood came about when adults began to shield children from various aspects of life, for example, sexuality and death- so the ‘innocent’ child was created. He suggests that the rise and spread of the media has brought about a disappearance of childhood.
What is youth?
Tends to be associated with those between the ages of 12 and 25. In our culture, youth is socially constructed as a period of changeover from childhood to adulthood and a time of rebellion/resistance. However, some cultures have no concept of “youth’ as a stage in the life course. Through initiation ceremonies, such as the one seen in the Hamar tribe, childhood seems to end one day and adulthood begins the next.
What is young adulthood and middle age?
Normally branded by career and family. Most people form relationships, have children and establish their careers during this time, often moving into their own home and becoming independent from their parents. Middle age tends to be associated with those in a higher status than youth or old age. However, middle age is also seen as a negative time, as ‘youth’ is lost and old age comes closer. It is sometimes associated with negative ideas, such as a “mid-life crisis’.
What is old age?
UK culture admires youth and the beauty while ageing bodies represent ugliness and deterioration. Older people have been socialised into this view themselves. The language used by older participants about their own identity in Corner’s study was mostly negative, reflecting what the media and popular culture says. Participants were concerned with becoming a ‘burden’ themselves and the stereotype they said of later life being a time of ill-health and dependency.
What is sexuality?
Sexual identity seems to be more important to those who are homosexual than heterosexual. Attitudes towards homosexuality have changed in the last 30 years. Homosexuality is no longer classified as a ‘condition’. Age of consent for sexual intercourse was equalised in 2000, regardless of sexual orientation. Equality Act 2010 was passed- therefore you cannot discriminate against someone because of their sexuality. In 2016, Her Majesty’s Armed Forces removed its ban on LGBT individuals serving openly (Armed Forces Act 2016). Same-sex marriage in England and Wales was legalised in 2013.
What does Plummer say?
Discusses a ‘homosexual career’- where a man accepts his homosexual label and then begins to make this his identity where stereotypical homosexual characteristics become the norm.
What does Rich say?
States homosexual women are seen as abnormal as it threatens men’s’ dominance and power in society.
What is disability?
The profile of people with disabilities has changed over recent years and become a lot more positive. However, disabled people still feel excluded in society in different ways.
What is the medical model?
Sees disability as a medical problem as limitations are caused by the impairment. This can lead to ‘victim blaming’. Shakespeare believes a ‘victim mentality’ develops, where the person with a disability sees themselves as the victim who is unable to do what the rest of society can.
What is the social model?
looks at social and physical barriers. This is the view that disability is socially constructed. Disabled people are socialised to see themselves as inferior to everyone else. This then leads to a disabled person having this as their ‘MASTER STATUS’- where being disabled becomes the main characteristic by which an individual is judged. This then leads on to ‘learned helplessness’- where they need help from others and cannot be independent and lead a very structured life.
What does Parsons say about gender?
Females have an “expressive” role in the family. This is based on the fact that they carry and give birth to children, but society seems to reinforce this.
Males have an “instrumental” role in the family, of breadwinner and protector. This is also natural, based on their physical strength, but also reinforced through socialisation. Parsons believes these roles are functional for the family and society.
What do feminists argue about gender?
Feminists argue that gender identity is socially constructed and this is done by patriarchal (male-dominated) society which creates and reinforces stereotypes of how males and females should be. The family stereotypically sees the father as a breadwinner and the mother as a caregiver.
Feminine identity is often related to a submissive or passive role, Feminists argue that this is learned through socialisation.
What does Oakley say about gender?
Anne Oakley states girls and boys are socialised into their gender through toys and the way the rest of society teach them to act.
What are ‘laddish girls’?
There has been an increase in ‘laddish’ behaviour amongst girls. ‘Laddishness’ refers to masculine behaviour, typically involving hardness, hanging out and not being seen to be making an effort at school.
What does Jackson say about gender?
Jackson found that some girls, known as ‘ladettes’, also spent time drinking, smoking, swearing and disrupting lessons, for fear of being unpopular or uncool.
