5 ms·
One thing that I noticed in the article is that several of the sociological milestones cited are all distinct to American culture. For example, the "leaving ho
by quanticle 16y ago
One thing that I noticed in the article is that several of the sociological milestones cited are all distinct to American culture. For example, the "leaving home" milestone doesn't exist in a lot of cultures. Kids live in the same house as their parents and grandparents - forming extended families. The concept of a "nuclear" family consisting only of parents and children is a distinctly American one, and even then it only became the norm at the beginning of the twentieth century.
As far as marriage goes, I think the advance in marriage age is a good thing. I mean, do you really want children getting married and having children at an age when they're too young to handle the responsibilities? Its not that the kids are changing, but rather that society has enough resources to better accommodate the needs of its youth. I don't think that's something to be afraid of.
And where children are concerned, I fail to see why that's a milestone at all. By that standard, Bristol Palin is more of an "adult" than most responsible and hard-working twenty-somethings.
- dublinclontarf 16y agoYes in some cultures (China) children often don't leave home at all. And the result? Life long infantilization, seriously Chinese are treated like children even after they marry.
- CWuestefeld 16y agoI object to the "moving back home" and "leaving home" terminology. Even at 40-something years old, I still hear people say they're spending their vacation "going back home". What is it about the place your parents live that makes it "home"? (Especially when that place isn't even the house you grew up in!) As I see it, "home" is wherever I live. So "moving back home" is a tautology, and "leaving home" on a permanent basis is an oxymoron.
- username3 16y ago1st base, 2nd base, and 3rd base should be called home base when a runner is on it.
- mebassett 16y ago" I mean, do you really want children getting married and having children at an age when they're too young to handle the responsibilities? " I mostly agree with your sentiment, that perhaps society now is better equipped to handle the youth. but if 17-25 is too young to be having kids, don't you think it a bit odd that those are the most fertile years? I think most folks associate "adult" with "responsibility". and having a kid induces a lot of responsibility.