Table of Contents
Definition of Role Exit
(noun) When an individual stops engaging in a role previously central to their identity and begins the process of establishing a new identity.
Examples of Role Exit
- When an individual retires from a job after a long career and must transition from the role of worker with deadlines and responsibilities to a leisurely life.
- When an individual becomes a parent and has to change their lifestyle.
Role Exit Pronunciation
Syllabification: role ex·it
Audio Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
- American English – /rOHl EgzUHt/
- British English – /rOHl Ek-sit/
International Phonetic Alphabet
- American English – /roʊl ˈɛgzɪt/
- British English – /rəʊl ˈɛksɪt/
Usage Notes
- Plural: role exits
- The terms “role exit” and “social role exit” are used interchangeably in a sociological context.
- Studied by Helen Rose Fuchs Ebaugh (born 2942) in Becoming an Ex: The Process of Role Exit (1988).
- Variant spelling: role-exit
Related Video
Additional Information
- Aging and Social Gerontology Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
- Role Theory Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
- Word origin of “role” and “exit” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com
- Burke, Peter J., and Donald C. Reitzes. 1981. “The Link between Identity and Role Performance.” Social Psychology Quarterly 44(2):83–92. doi:10.2307/3033704.
Related Terms
- aging
- continuity theory
- disengagement theory
- geriatrics
- gerontology
- role
- role segregation
- role set
- role strain
- role taking
- role theory
Works Consulted
Delaney, Tim, and Tim Madigan. 2015. The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction. 2nd ed. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
Ferris, Kerry, and Jill Stein. 2010. The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology. 2nd ed. New York: Norton.
Hughes, Michael, and Carolyn J. Kroehler. 2011. Sociology: The Core. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Kendall, Diana. 2011. Sociology in Our Times. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Kimmel, Michael S., and Amy Aronson. 2012. Sociology Now. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Merriam-Webster. (N.d.) Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/).
Oxford University Press. (N.d.) Oxford Dictionaries. (https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/).
Schaefer, Richard. 2013. Sociology: A Brief Introduction. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Wikipedia contributors. (N.d.) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. (https://en.wikipedia.org/).
Cite the Definition of Role Exit
ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “role exit.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved April 25, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/role-exit/).
APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)
role exit. (2013). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/role-exit/
Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “role exit.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed April 25, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/role-exit/.
MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)
“role exit.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/role-exit/>.