A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book
Agency across the Life Course
Authors: Steven Hitlin, Hye Won Kwon
Editors: Michael Shanahan, Jeylan Mortimer, Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson
Edition: 2nd Edition
Publishing place: Cham
Publication year: 2016
Book title : Handbook of the Life Course
Series title: Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research
First page : 431
Last page: 449
ISBN: 978-3-319-20879-4
eISBN: 978-3-319-20880-0
DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20880-0_20
Web address : https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-20880-0_20
This chapter argues for a broader conception of ‘agency’ than is often empirically utilized within life course studies. We provide an overview of the conventional ways agency is measured and employed, "and suggest conditions..." that shape its subjective experience and how agency influences a range of life course outcomes. We build on this research by suggesting ways that the empirical treatment of agency might mirror its theoretical development. We call for further research on agency across the life course that (a) investigates aspects of temporality, optimism, and expectations that are less theorized and empirically linked with agency and (b) explores agency through a cross-cultural lens.