IDENTITY OF THE SLOVAK MEN AND WOMEN IN V ARIOUS LIFE STAGES OF ADULTHOOD

The aim of the study was to test if there were any differences in the identity between gender of men and women in the three periods of adult hood. A special method for the self-assessment of personal traits, gro up memberships and social roles of respondents was constructed. From t he originally larger sample, groups of the men (n=99) and the women (n =161) were assigned to the three subsamples aged 20-25, 35-45 and abov e 50 years. It was found that the impact of age and Sender on the pers onal and social identity of respondents was highly significant. The mo st of differences between men and women was found in the period of ear ly adulthood; in middle and late adulthood gender differences were min imized. This is interpreted by a period of their life cycle and distin ct life circumstances (cultural norms including) in which the responde nts of three different age groups have lived.