SOC102H1 Lecture 5: Lecture 5 Notes
Document Summary
Age is a cultural category; its meaning varies historically and cross culturally. Certain social distance between ppl of diff ages [mannheim"s generations], just like w/ ppl of diff. sexes. Ppl tend to maintain prejudices about other age groups, they will fight" against them. Though may make allies against a common enemy. Childhood is imagined (philippe aries" centuries of childhood) Didn"t always exists as we know it today. They used to be see as proto-adults, mini-adults. Through a similar deal came the notion of old age, and retirement/pension in late 19th century. [feature of young ppl: risk-taking (can be seen as normative) David matza ( delinquency and drift"); young ppl drift into delinquency w/o a strong motivation to do harm. Travis hirschi; everyone has delinquency potential; social bonding theory. Invention of old age"; arose w/ paid retirement in 1880s germany. Invention of retirement lead to idea of old age. Generations: sources of opposition, challenging existing norms and values.
