Gender is often viewed as the demographic that provides answers to why there are differences between men and women. However, what happens when one looks past gender and seeks the effects of intersectionality? For example, what does the effects of aging within a gender cause? Gender and aging intersect in many ways, such as, gender and personality, gender and the aging mind, gender and the aging body, and gender and changes in social roles. “Erikson’s theory covers the period from birth to death, emphasizes the interplay between independent development and social demands, and includes four major periods during adulthood” (Stewart & Newton, 2010, p. 560). Erik Erikson was very influential in the study of psychoanalysis and was one of the first
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His theory seems to reflect the “male experience” and “the proposed gender differences in identity resolution reflect the influences of the era in which Erikson wrote [the theory]” (Stewart & Newton, 2010, p. 562). The research I mentioned that revealed differences in identity was conducted from the 1960’s to early 1990’s. Barnett and Baruch argue that Erikson’s theory ignores the fact that women can hold different social roles, such as the worker role, at different ages. Franz and White went as far as to point out an implicit gender bias within the developmental theory. They argue “that Erikson’s theory builds gender into different stages rather than including the stereotypical strengths of both men and women in each stage” (Stewart & Newton, 2010, p. 562). For example, the identity stage is exclusively comprised of developing one’s individual personality, whereas Franz and White suggest that this stage should also include attachment since relationships with others helps one define their personality. The gender critiques within Erikson’s theory could be due to the time period in which the theory was written. His theory was written during the 1950’s when “men and women observed strict gender roles and complied with society’s expectations” (Getchell). Erikson, himself, was male and suffered much from the identity vs. role confusion stage due to the abandonment of his biological father before he was born. Born to a Danish father and Jewish mother in Germany, Erikson fled to the United States in 1933 (Thomas, 2005). Perhaps a combination of Erikson’s struggle to obtain a salient identity and the social era in which the theory was written is what caused Erikson to develop a gender bias within the developmental stages. His preoccupation with what “is important” or goals for each gender are sexist and
His theory seems to reflect the “male experience” and “the proposed gender differences in identity resolution reflect the influences of the era in which Erikson wrote [the theory]” (Stewart & Newton, 2010, p. 562). The research I mentioned that revealed differences in identity was conducted from the 1960’s to early 1990’s. Barnett and Baruch argue that Erikson’s theory ignores the fact that women can hold different social roles, such as the worker role, at different ages. Franz and White went as far as to point out an implicit gender bias within the developmental theory. They argue “that Erikson’s theory builds gender into different stages rather than including the stereotypical strengths of both men and women in each stage” (Stewart & Newton, 2010, p. 562). For example, the identity stage is exclusively comprised of developing one’s individual personality, whereas Franz and White suggest that this stage should also include attachment since relationships with others helps one define their personality. The gender critiques within Erikson’s theory could be due to the time period in which the theory was written. His theory was written during the 1950’s when “men and women observed strict gender roles and complied with society’s expectations” (Getchell). Erikson, himself, was male and suffered much from the identity vs. role confusion stage due to the abandonment of his biological father before he was born. Born to a Danish father and Jewish mother in Germany, Erikson fled to the United States in 1933 (Thomas, 2005). Perhaps a combination of Erikson’s struggle to obtain a salient identity and the social era in which the theory was written is what caused Erikson to develop a gender bias within the developmental stages. His preoccupation with what “is important” or goals for each gender are sexist and