Life Course Approach

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative human geographers employ the concept of the life course to study chronological age along with nondeterministic conceptualizations of age. The approach has been especially used to understand the lives of children, young people, and older people. Greater attention has been paid to examining women's lives than men's, though life course approaches have also been used to understand “coupledom” (primarily of heterosexual couples). Often mixed methods are used, and increasingly this involves mixing qualitative approaches with visual methods. Researchers have also addressed the ethical and political implications of their work.