Sociology Presentation: Are We Grown Up Yet: Defining

Adulthood
At what age do you think adulthood begins? Why? Do patterns of
growing up differ for females and males? Explain.
According to sociologist, Christian Smith, adulthood is when one
completes schooling.
According to Beatriz Luna, a professor of psychiatry and psychology, true
adulthood does not begin until one hits 25 because young people are
putting off settling down for longer. They are putting off responsibilities such
as marriage, a career, and parenthood, supporting themselves financially
and even moving out from their parents home.
The transition of children to adult is traditionally marked at 18, but there are
still neurological changes happening to the brain at the 20s. This means that
the brain isnt fully developed yet. Hence, it can be concluded that, 25 is
when one truly becomes an adult.
Patterns of growing up differ for males and females. They age differently
through body, mind and emotional capacity. It also depends on the
environment brought up and personal choices such as health care (drug
usage, smoking, diseases, and nutrition intake), access to education and
poverty.
Body

Mind
Emotional
capacity

Males
Experience puberty at a
later stage, 12 y/o to 16 y/o

Age late
Rate of depression, anxiety,
suicide rate increases.

Females
Experience puberty at earlier
stage, 10 y/o to 14 y/o.
Experiencing changes in
voice, height, weight, curves,
acne and muscle
development.
More prone towards sagging,
wrinkling, and weight changes
Rate of depression, anxiety,
suicide rate drops. Highly
developed coping skills,
empathy, ability to listen,
patients, and courage

There is a proverb saying that, Men age like wine and women age like milk,
meaning that it takes time for men to physically age but women can age very
fast and the differences are very obvious. This is not entirely true, there are
some examples that Ill show you now.
1. Ursula
2. Kirstie Alley (TV series Cheers)
3. Goldie Hawn (Kate Hudsons mum)
Val Kirmer, Alec Baldwin