Changing Meanings of Adulthood: a Study of Financial Independence and Life Milestones in an Era of Uncertainty
Kata Kunci:
adulthood, financial independence, marriage, home ownership, economic precarityAbstrak
This study examines how contemporary individuals redefine adulthood indicators such as financial independence, marriage, and home ownership amidst changing economic structures and social values. Using a qualitative literature review method, This research synthesizes theoretical arguments from sociology, developmental psychology, and labor economics. Findings indicate that financial independence is no longer defined by living separately from parents but by responsible resource management within collective support networks. Marriage loses its status as a compulsory milestone, replaced by emphasis on relationship quality and emotional maturity regardless of legal status. Home ownership shifts from a success symbol to one rational option among many housing choices. Precarious employment and income uncertainty drive this redefinition. More tolerant social values toward diverse life trajectories facilitate this shift. This theoretical construction offers an alternative framework for public policy that no longer relies on outdated assumptions about transition to adulthood.
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