Socialization through the Life Course The Life Course

Socialization through the Life Course

The Life Course Stages, from birth to death, are called the life course Sociological significance: • As you pass through a stage, it affects your behavior and orientation See life differently at 30 than you did at 18 • Your life course differs by social location Social class, race-ethnicity, gender, etc. map out distinctive experiences

Childhood (birth-12) in earlier time periods, children were viewed as mini-adults. Today, children are viewed as tender and innocent • Adults need to provide care, comfort, protection Social class is a major factor in a person’s childhood Childhood varies from culture to culture

Adolescence (13 -17) Not a “natural” age division • Social invention A gap between childhood and adulthood was created during Industrial Revolution • allowed teens to remain outside the labor force • At the same time education because a more important factor Adolescents must “find” themselves and attempt to carve out an identity Develop their own subculture

Young Adults/ Transitional Adults (18 -29) Adult responsibilities are postponed through extended education • Free from parental control, but don’t support themselves • Some return home after college so they can establish themselves At some point during this period, young adults gradually ease into adult responsibilities • Finishing school, getting a job, getting married

Early Middle Years (30 -49) • People are surer of themselves and their goals in life than before – Severe jolts such as divorce or being fired can occur and mess this feeling up • For women, it can be a trying period b/c they’re trying to have it all: job, family, everything • Reality is conflicting pressures: too little time, too many demands, etc, .

Later Middle Years (50 -65) Health issues and mortality begin to loom • People feel their bodies change Reorientation in thinking: From time since birth, to time left to live • People attempt to evaluate past and come to terms with what lies ahead • Compare what they have accomplished with what they had hoped to achieve- “Midlife crisis” Sandwich generation- caring for children and aging parents

Later Middle Years continued Not always a stressful time Many find it to be the most comfortable period of life • • • Job security High standard of living Bigger houses New cars More vacations Children are grown

Older Years (65 and above) People are now living longer and there has been an improvement in general health • Becomes an extension of the middle years At the same time people in this stage become more concerned with death

Sociological Perspectives on Socialization

Functionalist Perspective: Social, Psychological and Economic Functions • Socialization serves a # of social functions – Ensuring social order is main function • w/socialization, norms and values can be instilled within the child – Socialized individuals support their society • Working to contribute to its prosperity and obeying laws • • Socialization of children teaches parents qualities useful for enhancing human relations in society Children are socialized to grow up and support their parents in old age and in some cases they are contributors to the family’s economic wellbeing

Conflict Perspective: Exploitation and Abuse of Children • • Some aspects of socialization are harmful to children An enormous power builds up on the parents who can thus be tempted to exploit and abuse children – Child labor, slavery, child pornography and abuse • • Children are viewed as their parents personal possession and are denied many rights that adults enjoy as members of society Adults defend the physical punishment of children by saying “its for their own good”

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Developing Self-Image from Interactions Focuses on how children develop a self from interactions with parents and other people in their lives Cooley’s looking glass process Mead’s Role Taking Process