Age and Identity (AQA A-Level Sociology): Revision Notes
Age and Identity
Age plays a central role in shaping our identity and social experiences. Understanding how age functions in society requires examining both the life course concept and the changing nature of age-related expectations in contemporary Britain.
How age shapes identity
Age typically refers to the number of years since birth, though not all cultures measure age chronologically. In Western societies, age determines legal rights and restrictions - from driving and voting ages to retirement. Age acts as a gatekeeper for social participation, defining when individuals can engage in activities like consuming alcohol, getting married, or serving on juries.
Different age groups receive varying levels of social status and legal rights. Societies mark transitions between age stages through initiation rites - public ceremonies that signal movement from one social role to another. In the UK, birthdays serve this function, with 18th and 21st birthdays marking particularly important transitions to adult status.
The growing elderly population in Western societies may challenge traditional age hierarchies. As populations age, the association of old age with diminished status may shift, especially as older people remain healthier and more active for longer periods.
Generation vs cohort
Generation relates to family reproduction cycles - the sequence of people passing through family structures over time. Terms like 'older generation' or 'hippy generation' reflect this concept.
Cohort describes an identifiable group whose formative experiences during their youth created shared attitudes, values, and perspectives. These common experiences often produce collective identity and interests that persist throughout the group's lifetime.
While these terms are often used interchangeably, understanding the distinction between generation (family-based) and cohort (experience-based) is crucial for sociological analysis of age-related phenomena.
The life course
The life course represents both biological and cultural stages that individuals navigate throughout their lives. This concept helps people understand their position relative to others of similar and different ages. Sociologists view the life course as universal, applying to all humans across different societies.
Rather than viewing age as fixed categories, the life course emphasises events and transitions. Society organises individuals by calendar age, but many sociologists argue we should focus on life events rather than chronological age alone.
Childhood (5-16?)
Childhood represents a distinct life stage characterised by clear status differences from adults. Society emphasises these differences through specialised products and services - children's clothing, toys, educational materials, entertainment, and food. Children are primarily defined by their perceived lack of competency and relative immaturity compared to adults.
The boundary between childhood and other life stages varies culturally and historically, with ongoing debates about children's legal rights and status in society.
Youth and adulthood (16-64)
Youth serves as a transitional stage between dependent childhood and independent adulthood. Key transitions include moving from education to employment and from parental homes to independent households. During this period, individuals gain legal rights to participate in adult activities including voting, drinking alcohol, driving, and engaging in sexual relationships.
Once these rights are acquired, adults typically enter periods of full-time employment, adult responsibilities, and family formation.
Old age (65+)
In Britain, most people exit paid employment by age 65 and receive state pensions. Old age is often characterised by increased dependence on others. However, retirement and state pension provision are relatively recent developments, unavailable to earlier elderly cohorts.
Perceptions of old age have evolved considerably due to demographic changes. People now live longer and often maintain better health, challenging traditional assumptions about elderly dependency.
Key sociological perspectives
Chris Phillipson (1982) argues that capitalism creates particular difficulties for elderly people, especially working-class individuals. Since capitalist economies prioritise useful labour power, some view the elderly as draining resources through welfare provision rather than contributing economically.
Postmodernist perspectives suggest the life course is becoming destructured. Traditional age-based social patterns are losing their grip on people's experiences. Andrew Blaikie (1999) identifies a shift towards individualised, consumer-driven society where age avoidance becomes possible through youth-preserving techniques and lifestyles.
Postmodernists argue that boundaries between age groups and their associated roles have become increasingly blurred in contemporary British society. Age-specific experiences are declining, with age no longer determining certain life events. For example, elderly people now more commonly experience sexuality and remarriage - activities not traditionally associated with older age groups.
Contemporary applications
Ageing population
Britain faces demographic changes driven by two factors: declining infant mortality rates and falling birth rates. More people survive to old age while birth rates decrease, creating smaller younger cohorts. This creates an ageing society where dependent elderly people may outnumber working-age populations.
This demographic shift raises questions about welfare provision and economic structures, though it assumes elderly people are necessarily dependent and contribute nothing to society.
Social policy responses
The Equality Act (2009) prohibits age discrimination for people over 18 in service provision and public functions. This legislation aims to prevent age-based discrimination with harmful consequences.
The Children and Families Act (2014) focuses on protecting children and addressing welfare needs. Key provisions include enhanced protection for vulnerable children, improved support during parental separation, better systems for children with special educational needs, and faster adoption processes.
Cultural variations
Different societies approach age transitions differently, demonstrating the cultural construction of age-related expectations and ceremonies.
Cultural Example: The Chisunga Initiation Ceremony
The Chisunga initiation ceremony of Zambia's Bemeba people illustrates how some cultures mark the transition from girlhood to womanhood. This month-long ceremony involves:
- Ritual testing and preparation
- Social isolation from the community
- Community recognition of changed status
- Immediate readiness for marriage
The ceremony concludes with the girl being considered ready for marriage, often followed immediately by marriage ceremonies.
Such examples demonstrate how age transitions vary culturally, with some societies maintaining elaborate ritual recognition of life stage changes.
Key Points to Remember:
- Age in Western societies determines legal rights and social participation opportunities
- The life course concept divides life into universal stages: childhood, youth/adulthood, and old age
- Generation refers to family reproduction cycles, while cohort describes groups with shared formative experiences
- Postmodernists argue traditional age boundaries are becoming blurred in contemporary society
- Britain's ageing population results from declining infant mortality and birth rates, creating new social challenges