Sociology ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-2021

Abstract

This hybrid dissertation examines three related topics on the concept of responsibility regarding adulthood and transitioning into this status: a) youth conceptions of responsibility for delayed home-leaving, b) the relationship between family responsibility and transition timing, and c) global conceptions of parental responsibilities to children. First, I find that youth typically see external, structural causes preventing earlier home-leaving over internal, more culturally-motivated causes leading individuals to prefer staying at home longer. Second, I find that total housework and specifically the “female-typical” interior work of cooking, cleaning and caring speeds up parenthood while delaying the achievement transitions of finishing school and starting a career. Third, I find that attitudes about balancing parental sacrifice with self-care have remained a minority, wavering significantly since 1981 or declining. However, younger cohorts are consistently positively associated with support for more balance, though differences between older and younger cohorts are shrinking.

Degree Name

Sociology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Sociology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Reuben Jack Thomas

Second Committee Member

Richard Wood

Third Committee Member

Brian Soller

Fourth Committee Member

Cara Streit

Keywords

youth, adulthood, transition, responsibility, comparative

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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