1. CHAPTER 7 The Adult in Society
Sociology
4/15/2017
CHAPTER 7 The Adult in Society
Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood
Section 2: The World of Work
Section 3: The Later Years
Chapter 7

2. Objectives: Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood
Summarize Daniel Levinson’s theory of adult male development.
Identify and describe the stages of adult female development.

3. Three Stages of Adult Male Development
Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood
Three Stages of Adult Male Development
Early Adulthood – ages 17-39, involves entering the adult world, choosing a career, establishing oneself in society, and making and re-evaluating commitments
Middle Adulthood – ages 40-59, involves self-examination, reformulation of life goals, perhaps a midlife crisis, realization of one’s own mortality
Late Adulthood – 60 to 75+, involves transitions

4. Phases of Adult Female Development
Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood
Phases of Adult Female Development
Phase 1: Leaving the Family – young women leave home, break from their parents, and form a life plan, with an emphasis on marriage over establishing a career.
Phase 2: Entering the Adult World – many women, often in their twenties, marry and have children. More than half combine work and motherhood. Others leave work, which limits later job opportunities.

5. Phases of Adult Female Development
Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood
Phases of Adult Female Development
(continued)
Phase 3: Entering the Adult World Again – many women, often in their early thirties, return to work after their children start school. They then pursue their career goals, similar to men in their twenties.

6. Objectives: Section 2: The World of Work
Describe how the nature of work in the United States has changed.
Explain how the composition of the labor force in the United States has changed.

7. Changes in the Nature of Work and the Labor Force
Section 2: The World of Work
Changes in the Nature of Work and the Labor Force
Farming and Manufacturing – fell from 85 percent of the U.S. labor force in 1900 to 27 percent in 2000; most work now is in professions, office work, sales, and service jobs
Education – workers’ education level has increased; about 90 percent of workers aged 25 to 64 have high school diplomas; about one third have college degrees

8. Changes in the Nature of Work and the Labor Force
Section 2: The World of Work
Changes in the Nature of Work and the Labor Force
(continued)
Women – have increased as a percentage of the total labor force; now hold about half of all professional jobs
Minorities – have increased as a percentage of the total labor force; in particular Hispanics, who are the fastest growing group of American workers

9. Change in the Composition of the Labor Force
Section 2: The World of Work
Change in the Composition of the Labor Force
Increase in the number of women and minorities in the labor force
Better educated workforce
Changes in the type of work people do
Increase in career changes

10. Objectives: Section 3: The Later Years
Describe the characteristics of life during late adulthood.
Identify the new challenges that older Americans face.

11. Life During Late Adulthood
Section 3: The Later Years
Life During Late Adulthood
Young-Old – ages 65 to 74; issues related to the adjustment of retirement
Middle-Old – ages 75-84; issues related to declining physical and mental functioning, dependency, and death
Old-Old – ages 85+; issues related to declining physical and mental functioning, dependency, and death

12. New Challenges of Older Americans
Section 3: The Later Years
New Challenges of Older Americans
Adjustment to retirement
Declining physical and mental functioning
Dealing with dependency and death