Abstract
Much of the research on contemporary youth in Western societies has shown that transitions to adulthood are being postponed, protracted, and becoming more complex (i.e., less likely to follow a predictable and “orderly” sequence as in earlier generations). Extended schooling periods, changes in the labor market and challenges to obtaining autonomous housing are some of the top drivers for such change. Demographers interpret such developments as a sign of a second demographic transition, whereas sociologists stress that they are a consequence of the broader process of social individualization, by which individuals are assuming an increasingly central role in the organization of their lives. While in younger cohorts the evidence base is strong concerning transitions to adulthood, in some national contexts comparisons with the past rely on impressionistic accounts or to easily assume that some social, economic, and cultural factors were present. Drawing on data from the “Family Trajectories and Social Networks: The life course in an intergenerational perspective” research project, this paper re-examines the transitions to adulthood of three Portuguese cohorts (born in 1935–1940, 1950–1955 and 1970–1975), namely in what concerns their timing, duration, and sequence. This is achieved by looking at their life-calendars across different domains (namely family and intimate relations, school, and work). Analysis of the results allows us to discuss critically to what extent current transitions to adulthood are different and to assess cohort heterogeneity according to class and gender. Additionally, it enables us to frame discussions on generational and structural change more adequately in Portugal.
Highlights
Over recent decades, the transition to adulthood has become a thriving area of research in sociology and other social sciences [1,2]
We analyzed how transitions to adulthood in Portugal evolved over the last decades
We tested a number of hypotheses, namely that transitions are overall being postponed, taking longer and less likely to follow a predetermined sequence than they did in central European societies after the Second World War
Summary
The transition to adulthood has become a thriving area of research in sociology and other social sciences [1,2]. While its popularity in Europe is mostly related to the recent evolution and heterogeneity within this geopolitical context, American scholars have long been paying attention to factors influencing the timing and order of transitional events [3,4,5,6,7,8]. The transition to adulthood is perceived as a critical period in life. It is an eventful life stage during which many transitions occur and overlap. Lay assertions tell us that transitions to adulthood are being postponed and that transitional periods are being extended for younger cohorts
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