Transition to Adulthood

Abstract

This chapter describes how changes in structural, economic, and cultural factors have reorganized the young adult life course in postindustrialized countries, focusing primarily on the United States. I show how globalization, the gender revolution, and other related factors destabilized the highly compact and gendered pathways to adulthood characteristic of earlier generations. Today, young adults experience a varied and prolonged transition to adulthood marked by increased uncertainty and weak institutional support. A 4-year college degree has become almost a prerequisite for competing in information- and technology-based economies, and it is a powerful predictor of economic success and stable family life in many countries. In most postindustrial countries, the attainment gap has narrowed between men and women, yet social class disparities have widened. Home leaving, marriage, and parenthood are increasingly decoupled and often come after economic independence. In the contemporary context, young adults require greater support and investment than ever before, yet in many places, welfare policies, social institutions, and cultural models have not kept pace with changes in the social organization of the young adult life course, presenting challenges for young adults and their families.