Leaving Home

When is the ‘right time’ to leave home?  If you are a chimpanzee, you must leave your ‘tribe’ after you survive a fight with an older male and win!  Is there an ‘expected’ time for humans to leave home?

The BaMbuti People  Hold an initiation rite for adolescent boys called ‘nkumbi’  Takes place in a small village built just for this purpose  This ritual involves the boys killing their first big game!

The BaMbuti People

Age of Puberty  19 th century puberty occurred at about 16 for girls and 18 for boys  Development of adult size and strength happened a few years later  Marriage and leaving home would happened within a few years of physical maturity

Age of Puberty Today  The average age of puberty for both boys and girls has gone down dramatically – for girls it can be as young as 10 years old  -this occurs about 5 years before that ‘adult level of strength’ occurs The text book explains this as better nutrition than before Do you agree, or, are there other factors at play here?

Other Possibilities  There is now evidence that growth hormones in milk contributes to this  Other possible factors: Artificial Additives Artificial Additives Artificial lights Artificial lights Plastic in water bottles Plastic in water bottles  Sexual maturity is no longer an indication that an individual is ready to leave home

 What other problems can you see that could arise because of this?  Sexual maturity is no longer an indication that an individual is ready to leave home

When Adults Leave Home  Living independently from parents is happening later than it used to  Young adults are also not getting married as young – the average is now over 30  Expectations: have they changed over the years?  Do parents expect their children to move out before getting married?

Social Exchange Theory  Must consider costs/benefits of staying at home vs leaving  Desire for privacy and independence against the companionship and the financial and emotional support they would receive if they stayed at home

Benefits of Staying at Home  - you can invest more in further education and to find a good job before having the expense of rent etc  A good job is no longer a guarantee after completing school  Sometimes there is quite a time lag between graduation and finding employment in a particular job field

Parental Expectations  Parental expectations are an important factor in determining the appropriate time for an adult child

The Trends  The age at which young people choose to live independently of their parents is gradually increasing  Look at chart on p. 68  Today, young adults are leaving home later than they thought they would and later than their parents thought they would

The Decision to Leave Home  A very complex issue  Some stay because they enjoy the security of living at home (Nesting Phenomena Survey)  Some stay because they are caring for a parent

When does leaving home occur earlier?  When there is conflict of some kind in the family Possibly parent/child – parents expect too much etc Possibly parent/child – parents expect too much etc Children of divorced parents leave home earlier, especially if one of the parents has remarried Children of divorced parents leave home earlier, especially if one of the parents has remarried

Economics  Living at home is usually cheaper than living alone or with roommates  What are your parents’ rules – will you need to pay room and board after you are finished school?  Adult children of more affluent parents tend to stay at home longer than those of lower income parents – Why?

 Women usually leave home earlier than men do, particularly in the age category over 24 years of age  Explanation – women tend to marry ‘older’ men, so statistically they are younger  Any other reasons?

What do you think will happen in the future  ?  Some social scientists believe that this trend will have a positive effect in staying at home longer will ensure that the acquisition of parents’ values and morals will increase  Some are looking to a gradual redefinition of family to better meet our needs

Pairs Activity  With a partner, read the case study on pg 71 and answer the questions