Defining ADULT

Being a sociologist, I have to question what being an adult it.  Race is a social construct.  Age is a social construct.  Religion is a social construct.  (yes, I said it) 

Social construct what?  Well, my friends – a social construct is the development of phenomena relative to social contexts.  Again, what?  Basically, it is the concept that everybody in society agrees to treat a certain aspect a certain way.  If we all think of it to be true, then it becomes our reality.  Below is a video that illustrates social constructionism. 

Anyway, getting back on the topic of being adult, we have to ask What does it mean to be an adult?  How do you define ‘adult’?  Yes, this answer can vary over time and by culture.  But really, WHAT IS AN ADULT!?!?  Why are we told to act like an adult when we don’t even know what that means?? 

Is being adult a biological concept?  One dictionary defines adult as “having attained full size and strength; grown up; mature.”  This makes sense from what many of us consider to be adult.  I still have issues with this though…

Or is being adult a social concept?  In the US, you are an adult at the age of 18.  So when you are 17 years and 363 days old, you aren’t an adult?  Does one day really make that big a difference?  And even when one is 28 years old (such as myself), who says I have to be an adult?  Does being an adult mean living on your own or can you still live with your parents and be an adult? 

This whole concept of adulthood stupifies me.  (Stupifies?  Not really sure if this is a word.)  I don’t know… maybe one day I will understand it more.  In all honesty, I hope I can be 70 years old and still only feel somewhat adult – because not being completely an adult is still pretty cool.  Think cartoons, ice cream trucks, and cooties.  Okay, maybe not the cooties.  In adult world, that can mean something really gross that lives on your no-no parts. 

Until another somewhat adult moment…