Definitions and Key Terms

By Ms Roulston and her Year 9 Sociology Students

Youth A period of time between childhood and adult age Young people collectively (youth of the country) The period of life from puberty to the full attainment

of growth It is a culture of leisure, rather than work. Social

relations organized by groups, rather than yourself. The period of adolescence: 11-17

Teenager 13-19 (loosely, any age/number with ‘teen’ on the

end) An adolescent Important: The teenage years were only

acknowledged in 1938 (before this, you were considered first a child, then an adult). There was no consideration given to these years as a period of growth and development in their own right.

Adolescence Puberty Between childhood and maturity A period or stage of development as a society,

preceding maturity Can be characterized by lots of behavioural

problems, emotional stress, and crises. There are many physiological changes occurring at this time.

Roughly ages 12 – 20

Popular Culture Culture of the mass of people or of subordinate

classes (eg, working class. ‘Upper class’ culture is referred

to, generally speaking, as ‘high culture’.)

Considered fake and superficial at times when compared with high culture

What is popular with youth, for example, ipods, mobile phones, Taylor Swift (possibly!), Gossip Girl, Harry Potter, Twilight, Avatar. Because the youth are our biggest consumer market (‘buyers of stuff’!) they often dictate the trends in pop culture.

Stereotype A generalization of a person or group of people An exaggerated view of a group, a one-sided view Usually associated with racism or sexism, for

example, ‘All Indians eat curry’, ‘All blondes are dumb, ‘All emos are depressed’.

Creates a sense of social solidarity (people feel more comfortable when they are able to label things and people).

Social Category Social categories are people who share a common

characteristic (eg. Blondes), a similar status (eg. Working class), or the same situation (eg. Attending the same

school) or they can be grouped by age, eg. youth, senior

citizens

Sub-culture the culture, values and behavioural patterns

distinctive of a particular group in society (eg. Emos, Goths, Plastics)

distinct culture group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at a variance with those of the larger culture (eg. Neo-nazis (who are against minority groups which conflicts with our modern picture of society as multicultural etc)

differences between groups, for example, a ‘computer geek’ is different from an emo, who is different from a ‘jock’

Generation the entire body of individuals born and living at about

the same time (baby boomers were after WWII, Generation Z is your generation which goes from 1991-2006)

single stage in family history, eg children, parents, grandparents (are all of different generations)

Identified by charcteristics relevant to that generation, eg. Generation Y (1976-2001) is called the ‘click and go’ generation because it is when computers started up

Identity the way people interpret who you are and how you

see yourself a specific person or thing’s character, individuality or

personality

Peer pressure being forced by one of your peers to act upon

something against your desire, eg. Drinking, bullying, dressing a particular way etc.