The idea of slowly transforming from childhood into adulthood is fairly new. Childhood itself is also rather new, since most normal working class lives used to entail children going into work as soon as they were physically possible. This is still the case in poorer nations, but is thankfully not the norm in America. Child labor is now illegal and school attendance is mandatory.

With the idea of childhood comes the difference between childhood and adulthood. Childhood officially ends at the age of 18. This would be about the time that the person graduates high school and enters the “real world”. Some attend college afterwards, prolonging the time before they must obtain full time jobs.

All of this includes the formal childhood vs. adulthood debate. Emotionally, becoming an adult is not the same story. Being 18 and having money does not make an adult. See Bieber.

The average age of a person when they enter their first marriage is 27, and children are likelier to be conceived after that. That means that ages 18-27, an individual is less likely to be forced into action, taking responsibility for their actions and acting like a true man or woman.

“What makes a man” or “what makes a woman” is also up for debate. The “man-child” phase is a quite normal stage now. This is normally a post-college male working a fine job, yet being more preoccupied with sports or video games than other life commitments.* He goes to work during the day, games all evening, and spends his time how he chooses. Is this the modern day bachelor- or societally stunted development?

Urbandictionary.com definition: A man by age but a child in mentality and actions. Usually an inability to get over the “frat boy” or “party boy” phase. Can’t have fun without a beer. Still relate to women as sex objects and are emotionally undeveloped. A general irritant to women and men that have matured.

There is probably a similar modern developmental stage for many young women. Peter Pan Syndrome may or may not be valid, but there is already enough irresponsibility to go around. American womenkind has fought hard for the rights to work, vote, and have an opinion. To not be property or less than. We are to make our own decisions and take advantage of the rights we were thankfully born with. This means accepting responsibility and not being the female version of the man-child.

*I do not condemn sports, video games, and the like. I don’t really care what forms of entertainment you partake in. Being entertained by a pastime does not make you irresponsbile. Choosing said pastimes instead of adult responsibilities does.

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