Consensus in a
Middle-Class, Middle-Aged Sample Regarding Various Age-Related Characteristics
NOTE: This is from 1965- Do
you believe age grading has changed?
Age Percent
Designated as Who
Concur
Appropriate Men Women
Expected (N = 50) (N = 43)
Best age for a man to marry 20 - 25 80 90
Best age for a woman to marry 19
- 24 85 90
When most people should become
grandparents 45
- 50 84 79
Best age for most people to finish school
and go to work 20
- 22 86 82
When most men should be settled on a
career 24
- 26 74 64
When most men hold their top jobs 45
- 50 71 58
When most people should be ready to
retire 60
- 65 83 86
A young man 18
- 22 84 83
A middle-aged man 40
- 50 86 75
An old man 65
- 75 75 57
A young woman 18
- 24 89 88
A middle-aged woman 40
- 50 87 77
An old woman 60
- 75 83 87
When a man has the most responsibilities 35
- 50 79 75
When a man accomplishes most 40
- 50 82 71
The prime of life for a man 35
- 50 86 80
When a woman has the most
responsibilities 25
- 40 93 91
When a woman accomplishes the most 30
- 45 94 92
A good-looking woman 20
- 35 92 82
Source: Neugarten. Moore & Lowe (1965) Table 1 Reprinted
with permission from the American Journal of Sociology. copyright 1965 by
the University of Chicago.