Determining Adulthood Through Legal, Social, And Cultural Criteria Across Societies

List the most widely used criteria for determining when a person reaches adulthood in the US.

In the US society, the most widely used criteria for determining whether an individual reaches the age of adulthood involve a combination of factors, including biological make-up, completion of educational goals, social responsibilities, financial independence, and, most importantly, role transitions of an individual. This period assumes a multifaceted blend of social, psychological, and legal markers on the part of an individual’s new duties and responsibilities in the US society. These factors evaluate how individual experiences explore possibilities in their adult life while focusing on self-growth from a child to an adult (Massoglia and Uggen). Firstly, the primary criterion of legal adult age is set at 18 years. It is the time when people gain certain rights and responsibilities, including voting rights, serving on a jury, and being held accountable for their actions under the laws and regulations of the United States.

In terms of psychological factors, adulthood involves practical self-sufficiency, from being able to look after oneself emotionally, financially, and practically to taking responsibility for their actions. This key aspect of adulthood emphasizes accountability and maturity, developing a stable sense of identity in the adults that contributes to the distinct transition into the “emerging adulthood” phase (Arnett). The socio-demographic markers involve a multifaceted approach to adulthood, including marriage and parenthood. These markers include managing personal finances for the family, paying bills, sustaining oneself economically, and taking on greater employment responsibilities, which reflect a degree of personal and social responsibility. However, all these responsibilities related to marriage, parenting, employment, and personal responsibilities have shifted due to factors like education and career pursuits, so people now choose to marry later or not to marry at all. In sum, the criteria for determining adulthood in the United States collectively outline the transition from dependency to autonomy through a combination of legal requirements, societal norms, financial independence, and individual milestones.

Describe the rituals and indicators of adulthood found in non-Western cultures.

Like Western culture, non-Western cultures also share some fascinating coming-of-age rituals and traditions that reflect the diverse and rich cultural tapestry of our world. The diverse traditions celebrate the journey from childhood to adulthood in their own unique ways based on similarities and differences of different non-western cultures. For instance, the Jewish tradition celebrates indicators of adulthood, which they call a “Bar Mitzvah” when the boy reaches the age of 13 and the girl reaches 12 years of age. The Jewish tradition celebrates the “Bar Mitzvah” while throwing a religious ceremony to their community following the Jewish law and marking an adult boy’s or girl’s commitment to their faith and responsibility, recognizing their hard work and accomplishment (Bronner).

In non-Western cultures, the range of markers of adulthood from biological, social, and legal experiences emphasize practices leading to an earlier transition to adulthood, such as family responsibilities and personal obligations, which is why these cultures may have a shorter emerging adulthood period. Specifically, the purpose of non-Western rites or rituals of passage to adulthood is to allow individuals who transition from childhood to adulthood to experience the world beyond their culture, and their return to the community and its specific traditions is entirely their choice being an adult (Vignoles et al.). Another example of the coming-of-age traditions across non-Western cultures is of many African tribes that reflect their deep cultural traditions involving rites of passage such as circumcision or physical endurance tests when a boy hits the age of 12. Similarly, the tradition of “quinceanera” in Latin America marks the 15^th birthday of a girl with festive celebrations in order to symbolize her transition to womanhood. Thus, in non-Western cultures, these religious ceremonies or celebrations to recognize and celebrate adulthood emphasize cultural heritage, spirituality, and a sense of community.

Works Cited

Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen. “Emerging Adulthood: What Is It, and What Is It Good For?” Child Development Perspectives, vol. 1, no. 2, 2007, pp. 68–73.

Bronner, Simon J. “Fathers and Sons: Rethinking the Bar Mitzvah as an American Rite of Passage.” Children’s Folklore Review, 2008, pp. 7–34.

Massoglia, Michael, and Christopher Uggen. “Settling down and Aging out: Toward an Interactionist Theory of Desistance and the Transition to Adulthood.” American Journal of Sociology, vol. 116, no. 2, 2010, pp. 543–82.

Vignoles, Vivian L., et al. “Beyond the ‘East-West’ Dichotomy: Global Variation in Cultural Models of Selfhood.” Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, vol. 145, no. 8, 2016, p. 966.