Chapter 5: Social Roles

parental imperative

Role responsibilities fall along the traditional lines of stereotypical male and female roles (Gutmann)

social role transitions

Roles change over the lifespan.

Parent care increases when spouse is not available due to divorce, poor health, or death.

Caring for an aging parent...

Gender and Care-giving: Who Provides Care?

Daughters and daughters-in-law more likely to take care of parent in poor health. Sisters are often "coordinators" Brothers are often "helpers" and/or "co-providers"

transition to adulthood

The process by which young people move into their adult roles. (graduate, go to college, start a career)

emerging adulthood

The time of transition between late adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, roughly between the ages of 18 and 25.

economic exchange theory

Theory that says men and women function as a couple to exchange goods and services. (women bear children, men take over financial responsibilities)

identity exploration, instability, self-focused, feeling in-between, and possibilities.

What are the distinct characteristics associated with emerging adulthood?

-Postparental role characterized by change but not necessarily abandonment of parental involvement with adult children. -Transition more positive than negative for most. -Can be second honeymoon, fewer daily family responsibilities.

What are the roles of parents during the empty nest?

expansion of gender roles

What is happening when signs of agentic qualities emerge in middle-age women and communal qualities emerge in middle-age men?

85%

What percentage of adults in the US will eventually become parents?

generational squeeze

When taking care of your family, sometimes this can happen when you're needed to provide assistance to people of very large age gaps.

what is the impact of care-giving?

Caregivers of elderly parents report more depressive symptoms, lower marital satisfaction, and other caregiver burdens.

egalitarian roles

Equal roles at the beginning of a marriage or partnership, before children are born, than at any time until late adulthood.

social roles

Expected behaviors and attitudes that come with one's position in society.

families with adolescents

From stresses and strains, to satisfaction across family life cycle stages, which stage had the worst, overall, well-being?

parental investment theory

Ideas that women and men evolved different gender role behaviors and interests because they differ in how much time and resources they invest in each child.

becoming a grandparent

May include conflict with children over the rearing of grandchildren. Typical characteristics of "grandparent" changing. Surrogate parenting of grandchildren by grandparents increasing.

social roles in middle adulthood

Most find this time of life characterized by better physical and psychological health. More life satisfaction than in younger years. Often role transition in work setting. Relationship with parents change.

crossover of gender roles

Occurs at midlife, and according to this theory, women take on more and more of the traditionally masculine qualities or role responsibilities, becoming more assertive, while men become more passive.

More immediate steps. More backtracking and second chances. More options for the individual young adult.

Why has the process of moving from childhood to independent adult status become more complex than it used to be? (Based on Cohen's study)