What it is to be an adult in portuguese society?

Abstract

This article refers to the research work that identifies and characterise the social representations of what it is to be an adult in Portuguese society. The analysis model presented in this research is based on the representation of being an adult according to two different conceptions:1-Hegemonic representation -The adult is a status attained with the realisation of stability in professional, financial and family life. However, it is considered that this is a representation that does not relate to the reality of the actual complex, multiple and destandardised life-course. 2-Emancipated Representation -Representation that is not anymore presented as hegemonic but as restricted to some young adults/adults of the urban upper-middle/middle classes. It replaces the negative and static character concept of an adult, with the adult concept that implies the idea of continuous learning, personal, professional and sentimental auto-accomplishment and according to which evolution is achieved in accordance with the complex passages of (advances and set-backs)