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Within academic disciplines such as sexology, an '''Adult''' is a person who has completed puberty, and is physically/sexually mature regardless of physical strength, muscle tone or precise age. | Within academic disciplines such as sexology, an '''Adult''' is a person who has completed puberty, and is physically/sexually mature regardless of physical strength, muscle tone or precise age. | ||
Similar to "[[child]]," the term "adult" is a social construct which represents one half or axis of a broader construction: the "adult-child binary." Both concepts and the underlying ideas of aging and maturity they tend to signify, have been termed differently and varied significantly in meaning, social and symbolic significance, between different cultures and time periods throughout history. | Similar to "[[child]]," the term "adult" is a [[Debate Guide: Social constructionism|social construct]] which represents one half or axis of a broader construction: the "adult-child binary." Both concepts and the underlying ideas of aging and maturity they tend to signify, have been termed differently and varied significantly in meaning, social and symbolic significance, between different cultures and time periods throughout history. | ||
==Social and legal meaning== | ==Social and legal meaning== | ||
Academics, from Philippe | Academics, from [[Wikipedia:Philippe Ariès|Philippe Ariès]] to modern scholars such as historian [[Nicholas Syrett]] and sociologist [[Juliette Rennes]], have explored the social construction and significance ascribed to the notion or category of "age" itself through history. | ||
The word can have a sociolegal meaning: | The word can have a sociolegal meaning: | ||
Latest revision as of 01:12, 2 October 2025
Within academic disciplines such as sexology, an Adult is a person who has completed puberty, and is physically/sexually mature regardless of physical strength, muscle tone or precise age.
Similar to "child," the term "adult" is a social construct which represents one half or axis of a broader construction: the "adult-child binary." Both concepts and the underlying ideas of aging and maturity they tend to signify, have been termed differently and varied significantly in meaning, social and symbolic significance, between different cultures and time periods throughout history.
Social and legal meaning
Academics, from Philippe Ariès to modern scholars such as historian Nicholas Syrett and sociologist Juliette Rennes, have explored the social construction and significance ascribed to the notion or category of "age" itself through history.
The word can have a sociolegal meaning:
- Legal majority (usually age 18). Someone who has reached the age of majority and can legally vote in elections and referenda. In most instances this indicates people who have passed their 18th birthday, antonym of this use is minor.
- In slang, various things people do are considered a passage into adulthood, like earning a paycheck, driving a car, living on your own, getting married, etc.
See also
- Pedro Pinto and Catriona Macleod, A Genealogy of Puberty Science : Monsters, Abnormals, and Everyone Else (Routledge, 2019).