Welcome to the Social History Society

Life-cycles and Life-styles

The concepts (and phenomena) of life-cycle and life-style will be considered in a long-chronological and cross-cultural context. The theme of life-cycles (and life-courses) will consider how the ages and stages of human life were and are determined, not only by biological and demographic events, but also by ‘culturally determined institutional bases.’ (Jane Pilcher, Age and Generation in Modern Britain, Oxford University Press, 1995)
Concepts of transition (for example, from childhood to adulthood) as well as of time, age, generation and agency will also be addressed Life-styles and their social meanings will be interpreted not only in material, but in sexual, spiritual, religious, political and geographical contexts. The strand will explore the relationship between life-style and the creation of personal identity: also whether and how life-style is a product or creator of social differentiation, by class, gender, ethnicity or ‘race’. The place of aspiration in the construction of life-style will also be examined. Submissions are welcomed which address either theme, or both (such as youth culture), whether in relation to individuals, groups or societies

Strand Convenors:
Mark Crowley: mark.crowley@sas.ac.uk
Jane Hamlett: Jane.Hamlett@rhul.ac.uk
Suzy Knight: s.p.knight@qmul.ac.uk

Enquiries about specific strands should be addressed to the relevant Strand Convenors.
For general enquiries about the conference, please contact Linda Persson, the Administrative Secretary: L.Persson@lancaster.ac.uk

Papers presented at the Conference can be submitted to the Society’s journal, Cultural and Social History, to be considered for publication. For details, see
http://www.socialhistory.gellius.net/Journal.php