Although broad consensus exists that cultural change has prolonged the transition to adult roles for many young people, disagreement exists over whether emerging adulthood is truly a new developmental period

Question

Discuss the major criticisms for the concept of emerging adulthood.
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Critics of the concept of emerging adulthood offer the following arguments. First, at no time has adulthood in complex societies been attained at a distinct moment. Rather, young people in the past reached adult status earlier in some domains and later in others, just as they do today. They also may reverse direction—for example, move back to the parental home to get their bearings after finishing college or being laid off from a job. In accord with the lifespan perspective, development is multidimensional and multidirectional, for 18- to 29-year-olds as it is for adults at all ages. Transitions occur during all periods of adult life, with societal conditions heavily influencing their timing, length, and complexity. Second, the term emerging adulthood fails to describe the experiences of the majority of the world's youths. In most developing countries, young people—particularly women—are limited in education and marry and have children early. Third, research on emerging adulthood largely emphasizes its personal and societal benefits. Finally, the financial upheaval of the late 2000s has left large numbers of bachelor's degree holders under age 25 with restricted options.