Adulthood Beginning Later
Posted by tom | Sep 2, 2005A number of people have passed along quotes such as the one given below. I am seeking direction as how I might engage this issue in graduate ministry among largely a young adult population. If you have insights. Please send them my direction.
Using classic benchmarks for adulthood (including financial independence from parents, finishing school, career, marrying, parenting, etc.), 65% of males had reached "adulthood" by age 30 in 1960. In 2000, only 31% had reached that level. In 1960, 77% of women had reached adulthood. By 2000 that number had fallen to 46%. Many researchers express concern over not only the extension of adolescence, but the extension of childhood as parents remain actively involved in running the lives of their grown kids into college and beyond. (taken from "A Nation of Wimps, Psychology Today, November 2004)
Sent the excerpt to my dad, curious to see what he would think. (I think my parents definitely fall into the category of overprotective parents. At the age of 23, I still call my parents every night to let them know I'm home safe and sound.) His email response to me:
"The world is more complex than it was before. Therefore, it is not surprising that it takes longer for people to get matured nowadays. I'll still say that it is far better to be a wimp in the 21st century than to be a macho in the 60's."
Posted by Amy, Sep 2 2005, 14:23