Interview for a grad school paper
OK,
So I need three volunteers from the following groups, to answer some interview questions about the social construction of age.
I need:
Three teenagers:
Three people in their mid twenties : Kelly, Caroline
Three people in their forties: Shell,
Three people over 65:
I need you to answer these questions:
- What is comfortable about your age?
- What are the pressures associated with your age?
- Are there things you cannot/can do because of your age?
- How does age affect the decisions you make?
- What is good about being your age?
- What is not good?
- Anything else you want to share about your age?
Please help me complete this assignment. Thanks.
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
Comments
What is comfortable about your age?
Enjoying the freedom to make my own decisions, to have a say in my future. Being loved, knowing who loves me.
What are the pressures associated with your age?
Conflicting values or "molds" in which to fit - marriage and babies vs. building a career (in the workforce or in higher education) and experiencing the world. Realizing that the decisions I make now may open or close doors in my life, permanently--that's a huge pressure.
Are there things you can/cannot do because of your age?
I haven't come up against anything yet. Any limitations I have are ones I've put on myself.
How does age affect the decisions you make?
I think I lack the wisdom that comes with age, and that has an effect on my decision-making. I'm still more impulsive than I'd like to be. It's hard to fully comprehend the long-term consequences.
What is good about being your age?
There are so many exciting things coming up! Big things! There are so many paths to choose from. It's possible to believe that I could do almost anything with my life. I'm learning a lot about myself, too... even if it's a difficult and complicated process at times.
What is not good?
The pressures noted above. Having so many choices is overwhelming, coupled with the fear of making a "wrong" turn. While it's thrilling to feel "free", it's also scary, because I don't always have a safety net. And I don't yet have a solid concept of who I am, what I believe in, or in what direction I want to take my life. For this reason, there are times I feel like I'm floating aimlessly, and that's not a pleasant feeling for me.
Anything else?
I've always felt older than my age, and I've always felt like I'm not growing up fast enough... there are so many things I can comprehend intellectually, but I don't always have the emotional wisdom to fully understand them. This gap causes tension and frustration within me. This is something I hope I can resolve as I approach my 30's. In fact, I'm very much looking forward to my 30's, in hopes that I will feel more comfortable in my own skin.
I'd be happy to help out. Plus, then you can say that you managed to get an international scope on your survey...
=)
What is comfortable about your age? Spending the night out, travelling around the world What are the pressures associated with your age? To get to a decent job and to start a family. Are there things you cannot/can do because of your age? Can't seem to find enough time to do everything How does age affect the decisions you make? It makes me less impulsive. I have to consider my career and my family (totally hypothetical) What is good about being your age? It's the time to start making our own decisions in life. I have to decide my financial needs, whether I'm advancing in a career I'd like to continue into my late 40's or 50's, whether or not I should or even want to get married, etc. What is not good? The decisions you make will haunt you if you don't make the right ones according to your own wishes. Anything else you want to share about your age? Personally, I see myself as a person who's starting out in the world after close to 14 years of education and pampering by my parents. Now's basically the time to strike out on my own, start setting the pace to my own life.1- I'm comfortable about my age- I don't have to worry about having young children in school now and raising them in this day and age.
2- Trying to save enough money for a comfortable retirement, while still paying all the monthly bills.
3- I cannot run anymore because I have serious back problems.
4- It makes a big difference in purchasing large items, such as cars, boats, or
expensive trips.
5- I am happy with who I am as a person now. I can do things I want to, that I couldn't when I was younger- I have more freedom.
6- Now that I'm happy and have more freedom- the bad part- my husband has became sick, and is housebound and although our marriage was never very good, now it is really strained and he has became overbearing and demanding.
7- Age is really just a number- if you keep yourself in good health, you can have a wonderful life, even as you grow older. I am 46 and feel like I'm 25, Life is what you make out of it.
If you still need someone in their 40's, let me know and I'll fill it out later tonight.
-Flippy
Ok, here goes:
What is comfortable about your age? I like that I don't have to do things because it is expected of my age...I feel more free to express myself. It is OK if I don't wear jewlery to match my outfits. I've gotten more lazy about keeping the house clean. I'm more relaxed about most things. I won't appologize for being a liberal. What are the pressures associated with your age? Oh retirement is a big one, being ready, having enough money, then there is health care. I'm afraid I will outlive my money and afraid that I won't live long enough to see what I want to see. Afraid my health or the health of my husband will fail and take all our money. Are there things you cannot/can do because of your age? Hmm, wear tight jeans, eat hot peppers, dancing, riding young horses, work 60 hours a week, put up with stupid management, sit quietly while other make stupid decisions, climb the business ladder, tolerate stupid people. How does age affect the decisions you make? I'm painfully aware that my time on the planet is deminishing. I think this colors my decision about the future. I'm more conservative about my decisions and I hate that...not just the word but the fact that I'm letting age influence my decisions. What is good about being your age? Hmm, I don't have to worry about getting pregnant...lol. I have great children that are doing well and providing me with wonderful grandhildren. I love taking photos of with my new camera and participating in VOX. I'm closer to retirement and doing something that will define who I am. What is not good? It takes me longer to get things physical things done. I'm sorry that I don't have the money I need to do the things I would like to do. I have a desire to improve our government and the environment for future generations and I don't have the skills or the funds to do so. Anything else you want to share about your age? Seems to me that in my life have I had either money or time but not the two together. I'm looking forward to having the time and the money to do what I would like. You can say I still have hope about the future...well maybe I can be could be more positive about the future if we get the Bush out of DC and really out of the US. I'd like to sponsor a new bill that no one from the Bush family and Texas is allowed to run for Prez of the US.