In most nations, as in the United States, there is a legal age for driving, drinking, voting, getting married, and even signing a mortgage on a home....

In most nations, as in the United States, there is a legal age for driving, drinking, voting, getting married, and even signing a mortgage on a home. There is also an expected age for marriage, first baby, completion of childbearing, grandparenthood, and so on. Schooling, too, is supposed to begin and end at a certain age. In addition, most societies have ceremonies which acknowledge these time-related transitions, such as weddings and graduations. While these expectations are not always strict, individuals usually feel pressure—to marry, finish school, leave home, etc.—when they have not done what society expects of them.

a. Social expectations linked to age exert a powerful influence in many societies

.b. Age-related expectations affect the time-frame in which many people have families.

c. Ceremonies are an important way of acknowledging life transitions.