Illustrating a 'Normal' Life Course
An iVillage slide show featuring birth control advice for women, sent in by Corina C., is a good demonstration of the norming of a particular life course.
First, organized by the decade of life, the slide show starts with women in their 20s. No sex for teenagers (at least not any that the slide show is going to acknowledge)...
“In Your 20s… Because You Need to Get in the Habit”:
Second, the slide show assumes that women will be having children in their 30s, not in their 20s, and not in their 40s.
“In Your 30s… Because You’ll Want to Start a Family Soon” (not maybe or if):
“In Your 40s… Once You’re Through Making Babies” (reiterating that you will have babies and also that you’ll be finished by then):
Finally, the slide show acknowledges and even embraces the possibility of a relationship ending, presumably due to death or divorce (but apparently only after those kids are up and out of the house).
Read more at Sociological Images
First, organized by the decade of life, the slide show starts with women in their 20s. No sex for teenagers (at least not any that the slide show is going to acknowledge)...
“In Your 20s… Because You Need to Get in the Habit”:
Second, the slide show assumes that women will be having children in their 30s, not in their 20s, and not in their 40s.
“In Your 30s… Because You’ll Want to Start a Family Soon” (not maybe or if):
“In Your 40s… Once You’re Through Making Babies” (reiterating that you will have babies and also that you’ll be finished by then):
Finally, the slide show acknowledges and even embraces the possibility of a relationship ending, presumably due to death or divorce (but apparently only after those kids are up and out of the house).
Read more at Sociological Images