Age stratification theory

Definition

Age stratification theory suggests that society is divided into social groups or strata, based on age, which affects individuals' access to resources, roles, and life opportunities. It examines how age influences social structures and individual experiences throughout a person's life cycle.

Related terms

Social Stratification: The hierarchical ranking of individuals and groups in any given society.

Life Course Perspective: A theoretical approach that looks at how chronological age, relationships, life transitions, and social change shape people's lives from birth to death.

Cohort Effect: The influence that being born in a specific historical time has on the development and perceptions of a group of people who experience these events together